Every year, there is an increase in environmental crises and social depletion. The impacts of climate change, such as the rise in the global sea level, the rapid increase of extreme weather conditions leading to droughts and floods & catastrophes such as forest fires, have enabled people's interest in the subject of sustainability. Despite this, social awareness and strategic social innovations must be accelerated to avoid future damage, as current initiatives are insufficient. Educating students will promote awareness, address the current vacuum and help build perspective toward environmental needs and sustainable development goals. It is imperative to prepare the next generation of youngsters to be ecologically sound and self-sufficient to comprehend the urgency of ecological duty. 

In a world of limited resources and boundless innovation, educational institutions such as schools, colleges, and universities play an integral role in equipping students to address future sustainability concerns and make a conscious attempt to deliver the necessary change.

Acquaint children and youth with the concept of sustainability

Our society and the ecosystem are intricately connected. Educational institutions must bridge the awareness or the knowledge gap in students to allow the emergence of sustainability in their conscience. By introducing initiatives such as recycling waste, conserving resources and growing sustainably produced food, education forums can provide students with hands-on experience on the nuances of various sustainable lifestyles. Students should be encouraged to be consumers of products sourced through fair trade routes and those made by local artisans over imported, low-quality, mass-produced products. They should also be educated and trained to be wise in their consumption patterns and respond to needs, not desires when making purchase decisions.

Imbibe sustainable life skills

To live a sustainable lifestyle, children or the society's youth should be urged to undertake individual responsibilities, such as minimising resource usage, composting, reducing over-consumption, depending on clean energy sources, practising minimalism, and purchasing local and organic items. Education on sustainability will help them develop these sustainable life skills and practices. It will also prepare them for successful careers in the future as, increasingly, companies will seek recruits who have sustainability not just in their minds but also in their actions.

Promote entrepreneurship grounded in sustainability

Facing adverse effects of climate change motivates youth to take up and showcase pro-environment behaviour that can offset these effects. Young consumers are eager to make conscious purchases in a deliberate attempt to change the dynamics of the environment. These demands need to be met with products and services that are grounded in sustainability as a core ethic and not an afterthought. Courses should be offered to today's youth on establishing sustainable businesses and building parallel economic ventures that value sustainability. This will help foster a socially responsible and eco-friendly industry and society. 

The future outlook

Students are the future advocates. Educating today's youth is imperative to enable environmental conservation and the correct understanding of the future we are heading towards if timely measures are not taken. The outlook for a sustainable, waste-free culture is building a society of young people who see sustainability as a core ethic in every action. 

Education plays a crucial role in raising the next generation's awareness in the right direction and safeguarding their future. The right guidance will allow young people to make conscious purchase decisions and lead sustainable lifestyles with their evolved knowledge and understanding of the natural crisis. Early education, especially at school, will lead to mature individuals proactively managing global challenges like climate change, thus contributing to a greener and healthier planet.