Education, Children, and Future Generations: Why Green Recovery Starts in Schools

September 1 is not just the start of the school year.

It is a symbol of new opportunities, knowledge, and a different tomorrow. At a time when Ukraine is simultaneously fighting for independence and planning its reconstruction, we must remember: the future depends on what we invest in education today.

Environmental education as part of the curriculum.

In elementary school, children take a course called “I Explore the World.” They learn about nature, the environment, and how everything is connected. But later on—in middle and high school—there is a lack of systematic environmental education. That is precisely why we risk raising a generation that will lack a sufficient foundation for making decisions in a world where climate and resources will determine the security of nations. The new generations are not just students sitting at their desks. They are young people who are already launching environmental initiatives in their schools and communities and even influencing policy. Children sort waste, plant trees, and work on renewable energy projects as part of their school programs. For them, “sustainability” ceases to be an abstraction and becomes a way of life.

The “School Under the Sun” pilot project in Monastyryska is more than just solar panels on the roof. It’s a space where children learn to see how renewable energy actually works, how the school becomes more self-sufficient and safer, and how the community conserves resources. These are hands-on lessons that foster a completely different way of thinking.

The UN and UNESCO emphasize that environmental education for younger generations is the key to achieving climate goals. If we’re talking about Ukraine’s green recovery, we must understand that it won’t happen without changes in education. Because it is children and teenagers who will live in the world after the recovery.

September 1 is a reminder to adults: we’re not just sending children to school. We’re teaching them to shape the future. And it’s up to us whether that future will be sustainable.