The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Brazil marked a significant shift in global focus from pledges to implementation. In India, the higher education ecosystem is transforming to prepare the next generation of climate-aware citizens and the workforce needed for a low-carbon economy. Over the past three years, a convergence of policy pressure, global benchmarking, industry demand, and campus innovation has transformed sustainability education across the country.
The urgency of sustainability is driven by environmental crises such as Delhi’s air pollution, which has pushed climate concerns into mainstream public consciousness. This has created enhanced expectations of sustainability in higher education, with students demanding cleaner environments, sustainability-focused curricula, and visible green initiatives. India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines have mandated the integration of environmental awareness, climate literacy, and sustainable development concepts across disciplines.
Indian institutions have been increasingly benchmarking their performance on sustainability in global ranking systems, such as the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 introduced a new “SDGs” category, which received 791 applications, signaling the efforts of hundreds of campuses to establish systems, policies, and governance structures for sustainability documentation and reporting.
Across the country, Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) have been developing sustainability campus initiatives, such as green and climate-resilient buildings, clean energy transitions, zero-waste systems, and sustainable mobility initiatives. These changes are reducing carbon footprints and imparting hands-on experience to students on climate solutions. Industry demand for green skills is driving universities to respond with specialized micro-credentials, joint curriculum design with industry partners, and internships with green companies.
Despite substantial progress, challenges persist, including constraints on faculty capacity for interdisciplinary sustainability teaching and research, equity and inclusivity concerns, and the need for effective grassroots implementation. The way forward is to shift from reporting-focused participation to effective implementation, redesigning curricula, investing in faculty development, strengthening governance, and making campuses models of low-carbon, climate-resilient futures. By using global and national benchmarks as tools for internal reforms, India can contribute significantly to its climate commitments and make the earth a better place to live for future generations.