Learning for sustainability equips learners with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to create a more sustainable future. It encompasses not only environmental knowledge, but also social equity, economic responsibility, climate action, the preservation of biodiversity, and active citizenship. It fosters critical thinking, helps learners to understand how different issues are connected and supports meaningful action in personal, community and professional life.
For the European Commission, learning for sustainability is a key lever in achieving the goals of the European Education Area, the Digital Education Action Plan and the European Green Deal. As Europe faces global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, energy transition and geopolitical instability, education plays a crucial role in preparing citizens for a greener, fairer and more resilient society.
The European Education Area Working Group on Schools: Learning for Sustainability, launched in 2021, has been a central mechanism for advancing learning for sustainability at European level. The Working Group (one of seven European Education Area working groups) has convened more than 40 representatives from ministries of education, European institutions, social partners, NGOs and international bodies, including UNESCO and the OECD. Members of the group have brought extensive expertise and experience on topics such as education for sustainable development, sustainability and environmental education, and global and citizenship education.
Under the leadership of the European Commission, the Working Group has functioned as a vibrant forum for the exchange of insights, policies and practices. Its meetings have typically included a keynote talk, examples from participants and a presentation of relevant research or projects, including Erasmus+ projects. Breakout groups have allowed delegates to discuss and exchange ideas and practices in small-group settings.
Through different topics, the group has explored how to effectively integrate learning for sustainability across systems – via curriculum change, whole-school approaches, leadership development, teacher education, and partnerships with communities and NGOs.
This publication brings together context from the input papers submitted to, and key policy messages from, the meetings of the Working Group on Schools: Learning for Sustainability. Specifically, the report:
1.
Presents summaries of the key conclusions from the Working Group;
2.
Includes examples of policies and practices from across Europe and beyond;
3.
Provides links to resources so that readers can explore and apply tools that are most relevant to their context.