Articles

Education for Sustainability (EfS) has emerged as a cornerstone of the European Union’s strategy to address climate change, environmental degradation, and the transition to a green economy. Rooted in the principles of the European Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Education for Sustainability aims to equip learners of all ages with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to live responsibly and contribute to sustainable societies.

The 2021 Final Report by the European Commission mapped national and institutional practices across EU Member States, revealing a growing commitment to integrating environmental sustainability into education systems. This includes formal curricula, teacher training, whole-school approaches, and lifelong learning initiatives. However, the report also highlighted disparities in implementation, with some countries embedding sustainability deeply into education policy, while others remain at early stages of integration.

A key development has been the adoption of the GreenComp framework which defines sustainability competences such as systems thinking, critical reflection, and collaborative problem-solving. These competences are increasingly being incorporated into national curricula, often through cross-curricular approaches rather than standalone subjects.  

Teacher support is another critical pillar. Recent Eurydice reports emphasize the need for professional development, initial teacher education reforms, and leadership training to empower educators as agents of change. Whole-school approaches – where sustainability is embedded in school culture, governance, and community engagement – are gaining traction, supported by EU initiatives like Erasmus+ and the European Education Area.

Despite progress, challenges persist. These include insufficient funding, lack of monitoring mechanisms, and limited access to teaching resources. Moreover, while policy frameworks are evolving, practical implementation often lags, especially in vocational education and adult education sectors.

Therefore, Education for Sustainability in Europe is advancing steadily, driven by policy alignment, competence frameworks, and educator support. Yet, to fully realize its transformative potential, sustained investment, cross-sector collaboration, and inclusive strategies are essential.

Council Recommendation on Learning for Environmental Sustainability

The Council Recommendation on Learning for Environmental Sustainability, adopted in 2022, sets out a shared European vision for integrating sustainability into all levels and types of education and training. It emphasizes the urgent need to empower learners of all ages with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to live sustainably and actively contribute to the green transition.

The recommendation encourages Member States to embed sustainability across curricula, support educators through professional development, and promote whole institution approaches that reflect sustainable values in governance, infrastructure, and community engagement. It also highlights the importance of inclusive and lifelong learning opportunities, ensuring that sustainability education reaches diverse groups across society.

By fostering collaboration between education systems, civil society, and policymakers, the recommendation strengthens the EU’s commitment to the European Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It serves as a strategic framework to guide national reforms and EU-level initiatives, such as the GreenComp competence framework, helping to build a resilient, environmentally conscious European society.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in 2015 as global blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030. SDGs comprises 17 interconnected goals, addressing critical global challenges, including climate change, environmental degradation, poverty, inequality, peace and justice. They aim to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. Among these goals, several are directly linked to environmental sustainability, such as:

• SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensuring access to safe water and sanitation for all.

• SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy: Promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency.
• SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: Reducing waste and fostering sustainable consumption patterns.
• SDG 13 – Climate Action: Taking urgent measures to combat climate change and its impacts.
• SDG 14 and 15 – Life Below Water and Life on Land: Protecting marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Education plays a central role in achieving these goals. It is explicitly addressed in SDG 4 – Quality Education, particularly in target 4.7, which states:

“By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity.”

Education for environmental sustainability equips individuals with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to make informed decisions and take responsible actions for environmental integrity, economic viability, and a just society. It fosters:

• Awareness and understanding of environmental challenges and climate change.
• Green skills for sustainable jobs and innovation in the green economy.
• Behavioural change, encouraging responsible consumption and active citizenship.
• Interdisciplinary learning, integrating science, ethics, and civic responsibility.

Education is both a goal in itself and a powerful enabler for all other SDGs, particularly those related to environmental sustainability.

European Green Deal

The European Green Deal, launched by the European Commission in 2019, is the EU’s flagship strategy to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. It promotes sustainable growth by transforming the EU’s economy through initiatives in clean energy, biodiversity, circular economy, and education for sustainability, ensuring that no person or region is left behind in the green transition. Beyond technological and economic measures, the Green Deal recognizes that education and skills development are essential to achieving these goals.

The transition to a green economy requires not only new technologies but also a society capable of understanding, adopting, and innovating sustainable practices.

Education is, therefore, crucial for the Green Deal and addresses the needs of:

– climate literacy and awareness;

– skills for the green and circular economy.

By placing sustainability at the heart of education policy, the European Green Deal goes beyond minor curriculum adjustments. It aims to transform education systems into drivers of systemic change, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and global citizenship. This approach aligns with SDG 4.7, which calls for education that promotes sustainable development.

GreenComp Framework

The GreenComp Framework is a policy initiative developed by the European Commission as part of the European Green Deal. Its main purpose is to provide a common reference for sustainability competences that can be integrated into education and training systems across Europe. GreenComp responds to the growing need for citizens to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to live, work, and act in ways that respect planetary boundaries and promote sustainable development.

GreenComp Framework outlines 12 key sustainability competences grouped into four areas: Embodying sustainability values; Embracing complexity in sustainability; Envisioning sustainable futures; Acting for sustainability.

GreenComp is aimed at contributing for a systemic change in education by promoting a sustainability mindset that empowers individuals and communities to shape a greener future.

Bibliography:

Bianchi, G., Pisiotis, U., & Cabrera Giraldez, M. (2022). GreenComp: The European sustainability competence framework (Y. Punie & M. Bacigalupo, Eds.). Publications Office of the European Union. https://doi.org/10.2760/13286.

Council of the European Union. (2022). Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on learning for the green transition and sustainable development (2022/C 243/01). Official Journal of the European Union, C 243, 1–9. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32022H0627(01).

Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (European Commission). (2021). Education for environmental sustainability: Policies and approaches in European Union Member States – Final Report. Publications Office of the European Union. https://doi.org/10.2766/391.

European Commission. (2019). The European Green Deal (COM/2019/640 final). EUR-Lex. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52019DC0640.

Eurydice. (2024). Learning for sustainability in Europe: Building competences and supporting teachers and schools. European Education and Culture Executive Agency. https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/publications/learning-sustainability-europe-building-competences-and-supporting-teachers.

United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. https://sdgs.un.org/goals.