Education for Sustainable Development: Teaching Environmental Sustainability to Adolescents

Nowadays, the issue of sustainability has become more acute than ever and is being widely debated. Therefore, learning about sustainable development is crucial, and this topic should be brought up at school and thoroughly discussed with students. In my dissertation, I have decided to concentrate on one of the Three E’s of sustainability, environmental sustainability, and how it can be taught to adolescents at school. Teaching environmental sustainability helps students understand the importance of protecting the environment and natural resources for future generations as well as develop the skills and knowledge necessary to make decisions about their own lives and the impact they have on their communities. Moreover, sustainability practices can lead to increased efficiency and cost savings in various areas and help students comprehend and address social and environmental justice issues. Overall, education for sustainable development contributes to raising responsible global citizens who are aware of what is happening in the world, can make informed decisions, and understand the long-term consequences. In this paper, I am going to discuss the topics of green and circular economies, sustainable consumption, lifestyles, skills for a green economy, and green jobs. Furthermore, the subject of adolescents’ mental health, specifically eco-anxiety, will be emphasized, and I will suggest how this difficult topic can be explained in a clear but caring way to help students develop sustainable habits and not become anxious and hopeless about their future.