Environmental Education and Sustainable Development: A Further Appraisal

Abstract

According to UNESCO's recent documents, sustainable development is the "ultimate goal of the Man-environment relationship"; thus, the whole educational process should be "reshaped for sustainable development." In view of the extreme importance of their educational impact, such statements need to be discussed. To which conception of environment, of education and of sustainable development does the concept of environmental education for sustainable development refer? This article presents theoretical tools that can be used to undertake a critical analysis of these constructs. Finally, the idea of including environmental education in the broader scope of an education for the development of responsible societies is considered.