Environmental education: principles, objectives, types and implementing at higher education institutions

In recent decades, the concept “sustainability” has transcended its origins in environmental science to become a focus across disciplines and sectors worldwide. As global challenges like climate change, resource depletion, and social inequity escalate, the role of education, particularly in universities, has evolved to prioritize equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to address these complex issues. This article explores how universities are increasingly integrating Education for Sustainability (ES) into their curricula and teaching methodologies. It emphasizes the shift towards interactive, experiential learning approaches that aim not only to inform but to empower students as agents of positive change in creating a sustainable future. Environmental education aims to foster students who are both aware of and engaged with environmental challenges. These students should develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, motivation, and dedication required to address existing issues and prevent future ones, both on their own and in collaboration with others. Universities and higher education institutions are key to this mission, contributing through research, teaching, campus practices, and leadership. Historically, these institutions have played a vital role in advancing society by promoting human welfare and progress. Teachers need to incorporate environmental issues into their teaching using both formal and informal methods. Informal environmental education is particularly important for achieving the goals of ecologically sustainable development. This is supported by several key global agreements related to the environment and education that recognize the value of informal education as a complement to formal education. We define and describe current theoretical frameworks related to popular and informal environmental education. Next, we argue for the need to sustain growing interest in this practice and research to evaluate its contributions to sustainability effectively.