“Green Pesantren as a Model of Islamic Environmental Education: Integrating Religious Values, Ecological Awareness, and Sustainable Practices”

Abstract

The growing ecological crisis has challenged educational institutions to rethink their role in cultivating environmental responsibility, including within religious communities. While environmental education has increasingly gained attention in global sustainability discourse, the potential contribution of Islamic educational institutions, particularly pesantren, remains underexplored. This study examines the concept of the Green Pesantren as a model of Islamic environmental education that integrates religious values, ecological awareness, and sustainable practices. Drawing on qualitative inquiry, this research explores how pesantren communities interpret environmental responsibility through Islamic teachings and translate these principles into everyday educational practices, institutional policies, and community engagement. The findings reveal that environmental stewardship in pesantren is not merely positioned as a technical response to ecological problems but as a moral and spiritual commitment rooted in Islamic concepts of khalifah (human responsibility as stewards of the Earth), amanah (trust), and mizan (balance). The Green Pesantren model demonstrates how religious education can become a transformative space where ecological consciousness is nurtured through curriculum integration, sustainable campus management, and participatory environmental actions involving students, teachers, and local communities. This study contributes to the broader discourse on sustainability education by proposing an alternative framework that bridges Islamic ethical perspectives with contemporary environmental challenges. It argues that faith-based educational institutions have significant potential to foster environmentally responsible generations by transforming ecological awareness into lived religious practices. The study provides implications for policymakers, educators, and Islamic institutions seeking culturally grounded approaches to achieving sustainable development goals.