By Ahmad Ibrahim

The UN-SDGs is a world agenda to sustain a world struggling to deal with several live destabilising crises. Top of the list is the climate crisis. Global warming of the world has brought untold miseries. Extreme weather conditions have exacted extensive economic losses.

The economic toll of extreme weather has grown substantially, according to a World Meteorological Report.

Extreme weather events and climate related disasters have caused economic losses reaching nearly US$1.5 trillion in the decade to 2019. The international system has struggled to make the required progress on climate change, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2023.

The resources of the world show signs of depleting. Nature itself is under threat of being dysfunctional. The services nature provides to the world are showing signs of failing. Collaboration is key to delivering the SDGs.

Convincing the world population on the SDGs has been most challenging. No wonder the UN has reported only about 17% of the SDG targets have been met. Incorporating SDGs in the school curricula is a strategic move. Kudos to the education ministry for taking this bold decision.

We at Friends of Sustainable Malaysia have strongly advocated the same. Conducting SDG education in schools is important for several reasons. SDG education helps students understand global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation.

This is crucial to foster a sense of global citizenship and responsibility. By learning about the SDGs, students are empowered to think critically about the world and consider how they can contribute to positive change.

The SDGs encompass a wide range of topics, thus allowing for interdisciplinary learning. This approach helps students make connections between different subjects, such as science, economics, and social studies, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of complex issues.

Global businesses value graduates who know more than their own narrow disciplines. Science alone is not enough. SDG education encourages students to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. By exploring real-world problems, students learn to devise practical solutions, enhancing their ability to tackle challenges in various contexts.

Teaching students about sustainability from a young age fosters a mindset that values long-term thinking and responsible resource management. This mindset is essential for creating a sustainable future.

One of the compelling reason why the Japanese people are more aware of sustainability is because of their education from a young age. SDG education often involves community projects and initiatives, encouraging students to engage with their local communities.

This engagement helps students see the impact of their actions and motivates them to become active participants in societal improvement. As the SDGs are a global agenda set by the United Nations, incorporating them into education aligns students with international efforts toward a more equitable and sustainable world.

This alignment can help countries achieve their SDG targets by raising informed and motivated citizens.

Many future careers will require an understanding of sustainability and global issues. SDG education prepares students for these opportunities by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed in a rapidly changing world. Incorporating SDG education in schools helps prepare students not only for academic success but also for meaningful contributions to society and the planet.

The decision by the government to make SDG education a significant part of the school system should be lauded. The country is in need of talents who are cognisant of the power of sustainability in improving the nation’s competitiveness.

Though Malaysia is not among the major carbon emitters of the world, climate change impacts the nation’s socio-economy in many ways. We have witnessed how extreme weather has resulted in huge economic losses from floods. Climate change has also been blamed for the emergence of diseases which reduce the yields of our rubber crops.

Countries have also resorted to using compliance with sustainability as the license to export to their markets. The case of the EU’s import restrictions of palm biodiesel is familiar to those in the palm oil business.

Educating our young on SDGs is one way to invigorate innovative ideas to deal with such challenges. Not to mention equipping the nation with the skills to compete in the fast growing world green economy.

_{The author is a professor at Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy, IISDS, UCSI University and Associate Fellow of Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, Universiti Malaya. The article was previously published by TwentyTwo13.}