Integrating ESG Principles into Environmental Education: Opportunities and Challenges in the MENA

Abstract

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region grapples with pressing
environmental challenges such as water scarcity, desertification, and climate
change. However, within these challenges lies the potential for sustainable
development. A paradigm shift in environmental education for sustainable
development is imperative to address these issues effectively. Environmental
education plays a crucial role in instilling resilience in the face of climate change
and natural disasters that increasingly impact the region.
Redefining EE through Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) can act as
a catalyst for positive change. Integrating ESG principles into education
empowers citizens not only to understand environmental issues but also to lead
sustainable lives and contribute to the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Accessibility to environmental education should be universal, transcending
gender, socioeconomic status, and geographical location. Leveraging technology
and digital platforms can significantly enhance the reach and impact of
environmental education.
Methodologically, this article employs a conventional literature review approach,
conducting a desktop research to comprehensively examine the existing body of
publications related to environmental education for sustainable development in
the MENA region. The review explores current environmental educational
approaches applied to achieve sustainable development in the MENA region.
Subsequently, it introduces alternative approaches that leverage ESG principles
consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to redefine the
current status quo.
The article concludes by emphasizing the need for a paradigm shift in
environmental education in the MENA region through the integration of ESG principles into the curriculum, promotion of collaborative governance and
inclusivity, the region can nurture a new path of environmentally conscious
citizens poised to contribute to sustainable development.