Education for Sustainable Development

What is it about?

Description Education for sustainable development (EfSD, ESD; hereinafter ESD) is based on two concepts: education and sustainable development. The term education means “systematic schooling and training for work.” It is based on the Latin word “educare” (“bring up, rear, educate”). In a narrow sense, education refers to the process of passing on the knowledge and skills to be learned from one generation to the next. In the broadest sense, it refers to any act or experience that affects an individual’s mind, character, or physical ability (Jeronen 2012). According to Brundtland, sustainable development is a process of change that improves the livelihoods of present and future generations without compromising the Earth’s carrying capacity (WCED 1987). It is considered to have three dimensions: an ecological or an environmental dimension, a social and an economic one (Fien et al. 2009). ESD is holistic and transformational, lifelong learning process which aims to enhance the cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral dimensions of learning (UNESCO 2017b). It has been part of the sustainable development debate and decision-making process since 2009 (UN 2009). It is seen as an innovative concept that gives new meaning to the teaching and learning of sustainable development. It has contributed to the debate both on the learning objectives, content, and pedagogies needed for the transition to sustainability including future education; peace education; citizenship education; gender equality and respect for human rights; health education; education for the protection and management of natural resources; and education for sustainable consumption (Wals and Kieft 2010, p. 7). ESD seeks to balance human and economic well-being while taking into account cultural traditions and the sustainable use of the earth’s natural resources. Key issues affecting ESD include, for example, globalization, the rise of the information and knowledge society, the utilization of diversity, and the need for the inclusion of marginalized groups and perspectives. ESD’s practical perspective offers a holistic opportunity to teach and study issues and phenomena not only in formal education but also in non-formal education (Barth and Michelsen 2013).

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Photo by Ojus Jaiswal on Unsplash

Photo by Ojus Jaiswal on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Summary ESD aims to find sustainable solutions to local and global problems through a transformative perspective. The core ideas of ESD are social justice and cultural diversity. Today, the crucial goal is to learn to live sustainably. Achieving a sustainable foundation requires changes in values, lifestyles, and policies globally (Huckle and Wals 2015). This again requires education systems, educational institutions, and educators with a willingness to tackle sustainability problems and the ability to respond to them. A useful way to promote thinking and behavioral change in individuals and enable cooperation between actors is transformative education. Its objective is to foster individuals’ critical thinking and support them in changing their own reality. According to Sustainable Development Goal 5 (UN n.d.), education should address social and power aspects as well as gender inequality to reduce gender inequality and improve human well-being. Gender inequalities do not in themselves cause environmental problems, for example, climate change, the loss of biodiversity, or social problems. However, they affect the thinking and action of individuals and communities worldwide. Climate change and other environmental issues can best be addressed through cooperation between stakeholders based on scientific knowledge. Thus improving women’s education and participation in society is important not only for human being but also for the planet.