Green Education in Post-Conflict Settings: A Systematic Review of Its Prospects, Challenges, and Implementation Requirements in Libya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65405/bmd66t44Keywords:
Green education; sustainable development; education for sustainability; post-conflict contexts; Libya; fragile contexts; green competenciesAbstract
This research aims to analyze the concept of green education and explore its potential, obstacles, and requirements for implementation in post-conflict contexts, with a focus on the Libyan case as a model of a country facing intertwined transitional and developmental challenges. To achieve the objectives of the study, the descriptive analytical approach was adopted, based on a systematic review of the scientific literature guided by the PRISMA criteria. Comparative analysis was also employed to benefit from relevant international experiences and examine the possibility of applying them within the Libyan context.
The review included more than 60 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 in Scopus, Web of Science, and Semantic Scholar databases, in addition to international reports issued by organizations concerned with development, education, and sustainability.
The findings revealed that green education represents one of the important approaches to supporting sustainable development, enhancing environmental awareness, and building competencies capable of addressing the challenges of climate change and the green economy, particularly in fragile and post-conflict environments. The results also showed that Libya possesses several supportive factors for the implementation of green education, most notably natural potential related to renewable energy, a young demographic structure, and educational institutions that can be developed. However, these opportunities are accompanied by a set of challenges related to weak specialized educational policies, limited funding, institutional and digital fragility, and the insufficient integration of sustainability concepts into curricula and public discourse.
The research concluded with a set of recommendations to support the adoption of green education in Libya. These recommendations include developing relevant policies and legislation, strengthening teacher preparation, updating curricula, expanding institutional partnerships, and supporting educational initiatives related to sustainability.
Downloads
References
أولا المراجع العربية
الأمم المتحدة. (2015). تحويل عالمنا: خطة التنمية المستدامة لعام 2030. نيويورك: الأمم المتحدة.
https://sdgs.un.org/ar/2030agenda
البنك الدولي. (2022). تقرير التنمية في العالم 2022. واشنطن: مجموعة البنك الدولي.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/wdr2022
بنك التنمية الأفريقي. (2019). وثيقة استراتيجية ليبيا للفترة 2019-2023. أبيدجان: مجموعة بنك التنمية الأفريقي.
برنامج الأمم المتحدة الإنمائي. (2023). تقرير التنمية البشرية 2023/2024. نيويورك: UNDP.
هواري، زهير. (2024). التعليم في ليبيا… أزمات متلاحقة. صحيفة العربي الجديد.
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/society/التعليم-في-ليبيا-أزمات-متلاحقة
وزارة التربية والتعليم الليبية. (2024). إحصاءات التعليم العام في ليبيا: طلاب، مدارس، مؤسسات تعليمية. تقارير رسمية منشورة / بيانات وزارة التربية.
اليونسكو. (2020). التعليم من أجل التنمية المستدامة: خارطة طريق — التعليم من أجل التنمية المستدامة 2030. باريس: منظمة اليونسكو.
https://doi.org/10.54675/RRIG2893
محمد، محمد جمال فؤاد. (2026). الذكاء الاصطناعي والتأهيل المهني: رؤية مستقبلية لسوق عمل مستدام. مجلة الفاروق للعلوم، 2(2)، 126-140.
بن حكومة، مصطفى أحمد؛ الزمزام، عبد السلام علي؛ والشيخ، عالية سالم. (2026). التوظيف المستدام للذكاء الاصطناعي في التعليم التقني: تحليل واقعي لآليات تعظيم القيمة المضافة وتقويض المخاطر المهنية. مجلة الفاروق للعلوم، 2(2)، 182-198.
ثانيا المراجع الأجنبية
Abdelatia, F. A. H., et al. (2023). Challenges Faced by Libyan English Instructors in Using E-Communication Tools. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 14(2), 512–521. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1402.25
Abo-Khalil, A. G. (2024). Integrating sustainability into higher education challenges and opportunities for universities worldwide. Heliyon, 10(3), e24659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24659
Agbedahin, A. V. (2019). Sustainable development, Education for Sustainable Development, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Emergence, efficacy, eminence, and future. Sustainable Development, 27(3), 301–307. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.1931
Akins, E. E., et al. (2019). Sustainability Education and Organizational Change: A Critical Case Study of Barriers and Change Drivers at a Higher Education Institution. Sustainability, 11(2), 501. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020501
Akinsemolu, A. A., et al. (2025). The role of green education in achieving the sustainable development goals: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 207, 114944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.114944
Aleixo, A. M., Leal, S., & Azeiteiro, U. M. (2018). Conceptualization of sustainable higher education institutions, roles, barriers, and challenges for sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production, 172, 1664–1673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.11.010
Allel, A., et al. (2025). Teachers' and Students' Perspectives on Integrating Education for Sustainable Development in the Chilean Curriculum. Sustainability, 17(5), 2201. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17052201
Amalu, E., et al. (2023). Critical skills needs and challenges for STEM/STEAM graduates increased employability in the solar energy sector. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 184, 113584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113584
Amin, H., et al. (2023). Education for sustainable development and global citizenship education in the GCC: a systematic literature review. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 21(5), 784–798. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2022.2114188
Ardoin, N. M., Bowers, A. W., & Gol, E. (2022). A systematic mixed studies review of civic engagement outcomes in environmental education. Environmental Education Research, 28(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2021.1927423
Biancardi, A., et al. (2023). Strategies for developing sustainable communities in higher education institutions. Scientific Reports, 13, 4540. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31455-z
Blanco-Portela, N., et al. (2017). Towards the integration of sustainability in Higher Education Institutions: A review of drivers of and barriers to organisational change. Journal of Cleaner Production, 166, 563–578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.08.032
Boeve-de Pauw, J., et al. (2022). Teachers' ESD self-efficacy and practices: a longitudinal study on the impact of teacher professional development. Environmental Education Research, 28(7), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2021.2010636
Bonilla-Jurado, D., et al. (2024). Advancing University Education: Exploring the Benefits of Education for Sustainable Development. Sustainability, 16(3), 1267. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031267
Buijlayyil, M., et al. (2025). Sustainability Education for Post-Disaster Recovery: A Qualitative Study of Community and Policy Perspectives in Derna, Libya. Sustainability, 17(3), 1012. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17031012
Clune, W., & Zehnder, A. J. B. (2020). The evolution of sustainability models, from descriptive, to strategic, to the three pillars framework for applied solutions. Sustainability Science, 15(3), 1001–1006. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00737-1
Demssie, Y. N., et al. (2022). Fostering students' systems thinking competence for sustainability by using multiple real-world learning approaches. Environmental Education Research, 28(7), 1013–1031. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2022.2073245
Elom, C., et al. (2024). Achieving carbon neutrality in Africa is possible: the impact of education, employment, and renewable energy consumption on carbon emissions. Carbon Research, 3, 41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44246-024-00132-5
Evans, N., et al. (2021). Comparing education for sustainable development in initial teacher education across four countries. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 22(4), 756–772. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-04-2020-0108
Ferrer-Estévez, M., & Chalmeta, R. (2021). Integrating Sustainable Development Goals in educational institutions. The International Journal of Management Education, 19(2), 100494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2021.100494
Fischer, D., et al. (2022). Teacher Education for Sustainable Development: A Review of an Emerging Research Field. Journal of Teacher Education, 73(5), 509–524. https://doi.org/10.1177/00224871221081556
Friman, M., et al. (2018). Steering sustainable development in higher education — Outcomes from Brazil and Finland. Journal of Cleaner Production, 186, 364–372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.03.022
Goller, A., et al. (2022). What do We Know About Teacher Educators' Perceptions of Education for Sustainable Development? A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability, 24(1), 88–103. https://doi.org/10.2478/jtes-2022-0007
Hallinger, P., et al. (2024). The Evolution of Educating for Sustainable Development in East Asia: A Bibliometric Review, 1991–2023. Sustainability, 16(2), 541. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020541
Hassan, M. M., et al. (2025). Systematic literature review on the sustainability of higher education institutions (HEIs): dimensions, practices and research gaps. Cogent Education, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2449823
Hinduja, P., et al. (2023). Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan: A Systematic Review of Progress and Challenges. Sustainability, 15(4), 3091. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043091
Holfelder, A.-K. (2019). Towards a sustainable future with education? Sustainability Science, 14(4), 1061–1067. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00682-z
Holst, J. (2022). Towards coherence on sustainability in education: a systematic review of Whole Institution Approaches. Sustainability Science, 18(2), 1015–1030. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-022-01226-8
Holst, J., et al. (2024a). Monitoring SDG 4.7: Assessing Education for Sustainable Development in policies, curricula, training of educators and student assessment. Sustainable Development, 32(4), 3084–3096. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2787
Holst, J., et al. (2024b). Whole Institution Approach: measurable and highly effective in empowering learners and educators for sustainability. Sustainability Science, 19, 573–590. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-023-01447-9
Jones, N., et al. (2022). Disrupted educational pathways: The effects of conflict on adolescent educational access and learning in war-torn Ethiopia. Development and Change. https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12745
Jurasz, J., et al. (2024). Complementarity of wind and solar power in North Africa: Potential for alleviating energy droughts. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 189, 113957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113957
Kang, W. (2019). Perceived Barriers to Implementing Education for Sustainable Development among Korean Teachers. Sustainability, 11(9), 2532. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092532
Kioupi, V., & Voulvoulis, N. (2019). Education for Sustainable Development: A Systemic Framework for Connecting the SDGs to Educational Outcomes. Sustainability, 11(21), 6104. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11216104
Krawczyk, D., et al. (2025). The relationship between educational and scientific regulatory interventions and socio-economic development in military conflict-affected countries. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.23(1).2025.01
Leal Filho, W., et al. (2023). Mapping universities-communities partnerships in the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1140994
Leal Filho, W., et al. (2024). Exploring the imperative of education and learning for sustainable development: research gaps and pathways. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 25(9), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2024-0003
Lee, M., & Kim, E. (2023). Effective environmental education for sustainable development beyond the Plastic Age in South Korea. Environmental Education Research, 29(8), 1187–1203. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2023.2172760
Marouli, C. (2021). Sustainability Education for the Future? Challenges and Implications for Education and Pedagogy in the 21st Century. Sustainability, 13(5), 2901. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052901
Milton, S. (2020). Higher education and sustainable development goal 16 in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. Higher Education, 81(1), 89–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00527-2
Milton, S. (2021). Higher education, post-conflict democratization and the legacies of authoritarian rule: The Tripoli University Programme for Rebuilding Libya. Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, 16(1), 60–75. https://doi.org/10.1177/1746197920902979
Milton, S., & Barakat, S. (2016). Higher education as the catalyst of recovery in conflict-affected societies. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 14(3), 403–421. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2015.1127749
Murphy, C., et al. (2021). The influence of a teachers' professional development programme on primary school pupils' understanding of and attitudes towards sustainability. Environmental Education Research, 27(3), 365–384. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2020.1827327
Nourredine, H., et al. (2023). Linking Urban Water Management, Wastewater Recycling, and Environmental Education: A Case Study in Casablanca. Education Sciences, 13(7), 663. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13070663
Obrecht, M., et al. (2022). Assessment of environmental sustainability integration into higher education for future experts and leaders. Journal of Environmental Management, 316, 115272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115272
Oe, H., et al. (2022). A Qualitative Assessment of Community Learning Initiatives for Environmental Awareness and Behaviour Change. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1479. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031479
Okada, A., et al. (2023). A Climate Change and Sustainability Education Movement: Networks, Open Schooling, and the 'CARE-KNOW-DO' Framework. Sustainability, 15(4), 3618. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043618
Omotosho, A. (2025). Afrocentric perspectives on UNESCO's education for sustainable development framework. Quality Assurance in Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-09-2024-0196
Plummer, R., et al. (2021). Higher Education Institution–Community Partnerships: Measuring the Performance of Sustainability Science Initiatives. Innovative Higher Education, 46, 615–630. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-021-09560-2
Price, E., et al. (2021). Supporting the role of universities in leading individual and societal transformation through education for sustainable development. Discover Sustainability, 2, 31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-021-00040-5
Price, E., et al. (2024). Enabling change agents for sustainable development: a whole-institution approach to embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals in higher education. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 25(5), 1043–1062. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-10-2023-0413
Ramísio, P. J., et al. (2019). Sustainability Strategy in Higher Education Institutions: Lessons learned from a nine-year case study. Journal of Cleaner Production, 222, 300–309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.02.257
Alnnale, T. (2026). Predictive Governance in Digital Enterprises: An LSTM-Enhanced Deep Learning Framework for Economic Optimization of IT Incident Management Using Enriched Process Logs. Al-Farooq Journal of Sciences, 2(3), 86-113. https://doi.org/10.65405/dctw1z34
Rashid, L. (2019). Entrepreneurship Education and Sustainable Development Goals: A Closer Look at Fragile States and Technology-Enabled Approaches. Sustainability, 11(18), 5018. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11185018
Rodríguez Aboytes, J. G., & Barth, M. (2020). Transformative learning in the field of sustainability: a systematic literature review (1999–2019). International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 21(5), 993–1013. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2020-0020
Shaltami, O. R., Hkoma, M. A. B., Algomati, A. E., & Mohammed, A. A. F. K. (2026). War and Weapon Geochemistry: Key Areas, Applications and Impact on the Sustainable Development Goals. Al-Farooq Journal of Sciences, 2(2), 168-181. https://doi.org/10.65405/tjwgec89
Schaffar, B., et al. (2024). Phenomenon-based learning in Finland: a critical overview of its historical and philosophical roots. Cogent Education, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2321987
Scheie, E., et al. (2025). Teachers' implementation of self-designed Interdisciplinary Curriculum Units in Education for Sustainable Development. Research in Science Education, 55, 183–206. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-024-10199-x
Schuler, S., et al. (2018). Systems thinking within the scope of education for sustainable development (ESD). Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 42(2), 192–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/03098265.2017.1339264
Shafter, M. E. A., et al. (2020). State of Higher Education in Libya: A Game Change Administrative Approach. Education 3-13, 48(7), 867–876. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2020.1726798
Shulla, K., et al. (2020). Sustainable development education in the context of the 2030 Agenda. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 27(5), 458–468. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2020.1721378
Sinakou, E., et al. (2019). Designing Powerful Learning Environments in Education for Sustainable Development. Sustainability, 11(21), 5994. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11215994
Tafese, M. B., et al. (2025). Embedding Social Sustainability in Education: A Thematic Review from a Global Perspective. Sustainability, 17(4), 1733. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041733
Taşdemir, Ç., & Karaman, S. (2020). Integrating sustainability into higher education curriculum through a transdisciplinary perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 253, 119932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.119932
Vare, P. (2021). Exploring the Impacts of Student-Led Sustainability Projects with Secondary School Students and Teachers. Sustainability, 13(3), 1392. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031392
Varela-Candamio, L., et al. (2017). The importance of environmental education in the determinants of green behavior. Journal of Cleaner Production, 149, 1173–1188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.02.160
Vergara-Arteaga, M., et al. (2025). Spanish teachers' perceptions of motivations, opportunities, and barriers regarding Education for Sustainable Development. Frontiers in Education, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1513148
Weiss, M., et al. (2021). The patterns of curriculum change processes that embed sustainability in higher education institutions. Sustainability Science, 16(5), 1691–1705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-021-00984-1
Yang, C., et al. (2023). A Bibliometric Review of Education for Sustainable Development, 1992–2022. Sustainability, 15(7), 6104. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076104
Žalėnienė, I., & Pereira, P. (2021). Higher Education For Sustainability: A Global Perspective. Geography and Sustainability, 2(2), 99–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2021.05.001
Zickafoose, A., et al. (2024). Barriers and Challenges Affecting Quality Education (SDG4) in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. Sustainability, 16(2), 583. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020583










