ECO Trends in Education 2025-2026: Learning to Save the Planet from the Classroom
Imagine a school where, instead of boring lectures on climate, children build mini solar panels and university students develop business plans for green start-ups. This is not the distant future, but our reality.
Environmental trends, or ECO-trends, are no longer just a buzzword - they are becoming the basis of educational programmes all over the world, including Russia. But what does it mean for students, teachers and how can it affect the future of our planet? Let's find out why green education is not just a trend, but a necessity, and how it is changing the usual school curriculum, young minds and the world around us.
Why is environmentalism in education important?
We live in an era when climate change, resource depletion and pollution are no longer abstract issues in the news. They are phenomena that concern everyone. According to UNESCO, by 2030, more than 50% of the world's curricula should include elements of sustainable development in order to prepare young people to deal with environmental crises. In Russia, despite the fact that the popularity of this topic is just gaining momentum, we can notice the emergence of new environmental projects and eco-bloggers. A survey by the Laboratory of Innovations in Education at the National Research University Higher School of Economics and Ultimate Education showed that 12% of Russian innovators and 14% of students consider environmental education important, especially in megacities.
ECO-trends in education are not just lessons about sorting rubbish. It is a comprehensive approach that teaches children and adults to think about the planet, make informed decisions and implement green practices in their lives. In 2025-2026, ecology permeates all levels of education: from kindergartens, where kids learn to plant trees, to universities, where engineers develop environmentally friendly technologies. This is education that makes us not just consumers, but conscious stewards of our planet.
Trend 1: Ecology in curricula - from theory to practice
In 2025, environmental education goes beyond boring paragraphs in textbooks. Educational institutions around the world, including Russia, are increasingly integrating practical projects related to sustainable development. For example, universities are introducing courses on green technologies and sustainable management. Business schools are introducing modules that teach students how to minimise the carbon footprint of their companies, while agricultural universities are focusing on organic farming and reducing the use of pesticides.
Schools are changing too. Imagine a biology lesson where, instead of learning the names of plants, children participate in the creation of a school garden or analyse the air quality in their neighbourhood using simple sensors. Such projects are already being implemented in some Russian schools, especially in large cities. According to the National Research University Higher School of Economics, environmental topics are increasingly being incorporated into project activities, which increases student involvement and makes learning more meaningful. By the way, CIS also has its own garden, which is grown by children under the guidance of Mr Dan, here you can watch a fascinating video about our garden.
Why does it work? Because practice teaches you how to think. When a schoolchild builds a composter with their own hands or a student calculates the energy efficiency of a building, they're not just memorising facts - they're beginning to understand how their actions affect the environment.
Trend 2: Digital technology for the environment
The digitalisation that has taken over education is now working for the environment. Virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming tools to help teach about caring for the planet. For example, VR labs allow students to conduct experiments to clean up bodies of water or model the effects of climate change without leaving the classroom. Analysts predict that the VR market in education will grow from $17.18 billion in 2024 to $65.55 billion by 2032, and Russia is not lagging behind: in 2023, schools and universities spent almost 2 billion rubles on VR glasses.
AI, in turn, helps personalise environmental education. Adaptive platforms analyse how students are learning and offer individual tasks, such as calculating their family's carbon footprint or developing a plan to reduce plastic waste. These technologies make learning fun and accessible by turning complex environmental concepts into interactive challenges.
Trend 3: Interdisciplinary approach and sustainable development
Ecology is not only about nature, but also about economy, society and technology. In 2025-2026, education is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary. Universities offer programmes where students simultaneously study, for example, ecology and entrepreneurship or biotechnology and AI. For example, ITMO University is developing courses where AI is used to create eco-friendly solutions such as energy optimisation.
Interdisciplinarity teaches students to see a problem from different angles. How to reduce carbon emissions? This is not only a question for engineers, but also for economists who calculate budgets and sociologists who study how to motivate people to green habits. This approach prepares specialists capable of meeting the complex challenges of the 21st century.
Trend 4: Environmental education through communities
Another powerful trend is the creation of educational ecosystems where students, teachers and local communities work together. In 2025, schools and universities are increasingly collaborating with environmental organisations and start-ups to engage students in real-world projects. For example, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, school students are involved in initiatives to green the city, and university students are developing startups related to waste recycling.
These communities not only teach, but also inspire. When a teenager sees that their battery collection project has helped clean up a neighbourhood, they begin to believe that their actions matter. And this is perhaps the most important thing environmental education can provide - a sense of responsibility and self-confidence.
Challenges and barriers: what hinders green education in Russia?
Despite progress, environmental education in Russia faces challenges. A survey by the National Research University Higher School of Economics showed that only 8% of rural residents consider environmental topics relevant, and support for this trend is even lower among 17-19 year old students. This is due to the fact that economic and social problems often seem more pressing than ecology. In addition, the lack of qualified teachers and resources slows down the introduction of green programmes.
Another problem is the stereotype that environmentalism is something distant and unrelated to everyday life. To overcome this barrier, education needs to become more localised: discussing how environmental solutions can improve the life of a particular town or village, not just the planet as a whole.
The Future of Green Education: What's Next?
In 2025-2026, environmental education will become even more integrated and practical. We will see more start-ups created by students that solve local environmental problems - from cleaning rivers to developing biomaterials. International partnerships between universities will allow students to share experiences and implement what they have learnt in their home countries. But the most important thing is a change of mindset. Environmental education teaches us not only to sort rubbish or save water, but also to ask questions: how do my actions affect the world? How can I make it better? What are the consequences of each of my actions?
Conclusion: time for action
The ECO Trends in Education 2025-2026 are not just a fashion, but a response to the challenges of the times. They teach us to care for the planet, using technology, interdisciplinary knowledge and the power of communities. There are places where this process is just gaining momentum, but it is already clear: green education is the path to an informed future and it is in our interest to scale and popularise it as soon as possible. As philosopher John Dewey wrote, ‘the ultimate goal of education is not mere knowledge but action’, so even a small step towards awareness today will have big positive consequences in the future.
