Integrating Green Economy into Primary Education: A Literature Review

Abstract

The increasing complexity of global environmental challenges requires a fundamental shift in both educational and economic systems toward sustainability. One of the emerging approaches is the integration of the green economy into primary education, which aims to develop environmentally responsible behavior, ecological awareness, and sustainability-oriented skills from an early age. This study aims to analyze and synthesize existing literature related to the integration of the green economy in primary education, focusing on its concepts, implementation strategies, challenges, and opportunities. The research employs a qualitative literature review method by collecting and analyzing relevant scholarly articles from academic databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, and ERIC. The selected literature was filtered based on relevance to environmental education, sustainable education, and primary school learning within a defined publication period. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key patterns and themes across the studies. The findings reveal that the integration of the green economy in primary education is primarily implemented through green education and green school approaches, contextual learning, project-based learning, and school-based environmental programs. Schools play a central role in internalizing environmental values and shaping students’ ecological character. However, the implementation still faces challenges such as limited teacher understanding, inadequate resources, and insufficient institutional support. Despite these challenges, significant opportunities exist through flexible curriculum policies and multi-stakeholder collaboration involving schools, government, and the private sector. Overall, the integration of the green economy in primary education is essential for preparing a generation that is not only academically competent but also environmentally conscious and capable of contributing to sustainable development.