Literature review on Sustainability Education for Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Abstract
Sustainability education has emerged as a critical strategy for addressing contemporary environmental, social, and economic challenges and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As global concerns such as climate change, resource depletion, biodiversity loss, poverty, and social inequality continue to intensify, education is increasingly recognized as a transformative tool for promoting sustainable development. This review paper examines the role of sustainability education in achieving the SDGs by synthesizing existing literature on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), sustainability competencies, transformative learning, systems thinking, and experiential learning. The study adopts a narrative literature review approach to analyze key theoretical perspectives and scholarly contributions related to sustainability education. The findings indicate that sustainability education enhances sustainability literacy, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and responsible citizenship, thereby contributing to the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The review further highlights the role of educational institutions in fostering innovation, promoting sustainable behaviors, and supporting collaborative partnerships. Despite its growing importance, sustainability education faces challenges related to curriculum integration, educator preparedness, institutional support, and assessment practices. The study also identifies significant research gaps, particularly concerning empirical evidence on SDG achievement and long-term behavioral outcomes. Overall, the review underscores the importance of strengthening sustainability education to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and achieve a more sustainable future.
Keywords: Sustainability Education; Education for Sustainable Development (ESD); Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Sustainability Competencies; Transformative Learning; Systems Thinking; Sustainable Development