National Environmental Education Policy Updated (Colombia, June 2026)
The Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Environment presented an updated National Environmental Education Policy after 24 years without an update. The policy sets a new national route for environmental learning across schools, universities, territories, and community spaces.
The Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Environment presented an updated National Environmental Education Policy after 24 years without an update. The policy sets a new national route for environmental learning across schools, universities, territories, and community spaces.
What Changed?
The updated policy shifts environmental education away from isolated activities and toward territory-based learning, climate action, biodiversity protection, environmental justice, student participation, teacher training, and monitoring. It also adds a plan of action with goals, indicators, and follow-up mechanisms that the previous 2002 policy did not include.
Old System vs New System
The 2002 national policy remained the main reference for environmental education, with less developed national guidance on climate change, biodiversity loss, territorial learning, student participation, and monitoring.
Colombia now has an updated policy with 17 strategic processes and 57 lines of action, including stronger PRAE, PROCEDA and CIDEA instruments, a national environmental education table, teacher training, higher education alliances, and wider student participation.
Who Is Affected?
Student Impact
Students may see more climate, biodiversity, risk management, territorial knowledge, and participation components in environmental learning and school projects.
Parent / Family Impact
Families may see schools connect environmental learning more directly with local territory, community participation, and student projects.
School / Institution Impact
Schools and education authorities will need to align environmental projects and planning with the updated policy and its action plan.
Teacher / Staff Impact
Teachers are expected to receive new training opportunities and guidance for linking environmental learning with local context, science, community knowledge, and student participation.
Key Dates
- 2026-06-10: updated National Environmental Education Policy presented
- 2026 onward: socialization and territorial appropriation stage announced.
What To Do
- Schools should review PRAE and related environmental education projects against the updated policy
- while territorial authorities should prepare for the socialization and implementation stage.
What To Watch Next
Watch for the national environmental education table, territorial socialization, teacher training actions, and updates to school environmental projects.
Global Context
The update gives international readers a national example of linking environmental education with climate, biodiversity, student voice, and territorial planning.
Source Record
Source type: Official announcement
Source name: Ministry of National Education of Colombia