THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION: A REVIEW

Abstract

Environmental pollution is a major global challenge that can adversely affect ecosystems and human health. In developing countries, the lack of awareness and inadequate sustainable practices exacerbate pollution levels, making it imperative to identify long-term solutions. Here, education plays a crucial role in addressing this issue by raising environmental awareness, encouraging sustainable practices, and shaping policy reforms. Despite the importance of education in driving environmental change, the precise impact of education levels and expenditures on reducing pollution remains underexplored, especially in the ASEAN region. This paper addresses this issue by examining how education mitigates environmental pollution, focusing on both the level of education and expenditure on education. Using data from ten ASEAN countries covering the period from 1980 to 2022, this study employs three statistical methods—quantile regression (0.5), FMOLS, and Robust OLS—to analyze the relationship between education and CO2 emissions. The results consistently show a negative relationship between CO2 emissions and education, as measured by educational expenditure in primary, secondary, and tertiary education. These findings suggest that investing in education, regardless of the level, has a significant and direct impact on reducing CO2 emissions. By fostering a well-educated and environmentally aware population, ASEAN countries can achieve substantial reductions in CO2 emissions, contributing to global efforts to reduce environmental pollution.