Yet, the increased attention it has received inside and outside teaching spaces has amplified in recent years. Examples include the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) ending their involvement with the Texaco Children’s Art Competition, the growth of the ‘sustainable finance‘ market and moves at an EU level to crackdown on greenwashing claims as part of introducing new legislation across the region.

Last week saw a wave of Earth Day events and celebrations – the annual event demonstrating support for environmental protection. In the same week, Ireland passed its Earth Overshoot Day on the 21st of April, 2023 – the day of the year when if all humanity consumed like the people in that particular country (Ireland, in this case), the ecological footprint per person is greater than global biocapacity per person.

The first in a three-part series, this guidebook has been developed to support teachers and students in learning about greenwashing as a barrier to sustainable development. It begins by defining the term ‘sustainable development’.

The guidebook is recommended to teachers of the following post primary subjects:
Politics and Society (LC): Learning outcome 8.1 and Citizenship Project, topic: Sustainable development
Geography (LC): Learning outcome 4.5
Business Studies (JC): Learning outcome 1.9
C.S.P.E / Civic Social and Political Education (JC): Learning outcomes 2.2, 2.9 and 2.10
Home Economics (JC): Learning outcome 3.8
The three parts of this series are:
Part 1: A Teachers’ guide to Greenwashing as a barrier to sustainability
Part 2: Deniers, delayers and regulators, oh my! Who’s involved in greenwashing?
Part 3: Case studies to engage students'

Find out more at A teachers' guide to Greenwashing - DevelopmentEducation.ie