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Assessing the Role of Environmental Education Practices Towards the Attainment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

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  • Kgosietsile Velempini

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of environmental education to attain the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Environmental education has an interconnection with the SDGs, that constitute 169 targets and 230 indicators. Education is addressed in SDG4; however, education has an extended role in other interconnected areas such as poverty, gender, health and inequality, natural resources, energy, and climate change and variability. This study adopted a survey method and employed a questionnaire, open-ended questions, and critical review of secondary sources. The results from this study reveal interspersed areas played by environmental education in attaining the integrated SDGs and contribute to building awareness on the momentous role of environmental education in producing sustainable pathways for the future. The international environmental education community shares a goal of focusing on environmental education to attain the SDGs. This paper recommends competent mainstreaming of environmental education practices in the school curriculum, lifelong learning settings, and in government and corporation policy frameworks to enable societies to become resilient.

Suggested Citation

  • Kgosietsile Velempini, 2025. "Assessing the Role of Environmental Education Practices Towards the Attainment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2043-:d:1600891
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sinha, Avik & Sengupta, Tuhin & Alvarado, Rafael, 2020. "Interplay between Technological Innovation and Environmental Quality: Formulating the SDG Policies for Next 11 Economies," MPRA Paper 104247, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2020.
    2. Nhemachena, Charles & Matchaya, Greenwell & Nhemachena, C. R. & Karuaihe, S. & Muchara, B. & Nhlengethwa, Sibusiso, 2018. "Measuring baseline agriculture-related sustainable development goals index for southern Africa," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 10(3):1-16..
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    Cited by:

    1. Elizabeth Oluwakemi Ayandibu, 2025. "Impact of entrepreneurship education on students’ understanding of global markets and the productive economy: A literature review," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 14(8), pages 661-673, December.
    2. Wei Hou & Qianwen Yang & Yipei Cao & Lei Luo & Jingyi Ding & Qilin Wang & Jun Wei & Hai Ma, 2025. "Impact of Ecological Education on University Students’ Environmentally Sustainable Behavior—Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-27, July.
    3. Kai-Chao Yao & Fan-Lung Tseng & Chi-Chi Chan, 2025. "Transforming Education: The Impact of Integrating International Education into School Curricula on International Literacy and Learning Attitudes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Fortune Aigbe & Clinton Aigbavboa & Lebogang Ayobiojo & Patrick Ehi Imoisili, 2025. "Adaptive Learning for Inclusivity, Sustainable Development, and Societal Impact: A Case Study of Community Engagement at the University of Johannesburg," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-15, May.
    5. Qingbin Liu & Basirat Olaide Raimi & Abdulrahman Alomair, 2026. "Schooling for Sustainability: Disaggregating the Effects of Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Education on Sustainable Development in the Global South," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(2), pages 1914-1935, April.
    6. Busra Agan Celik & Stephen Obinozie Ogwu & Serdar Celik, 2026. "Unraveling the Intricate Impact of Aging and Healthy Life Expectancy on Carbon Productivity in NEXT‐11 Countries," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(S1), pages 1043-1066, January.
    7. Mekonnen Amberber Degefu & Yitayal Addis Alemayehu & Bewketu Mamaru Mengiste, 2026. "Understanding How Secondary School Teachers in Ethiopia Integrate Environmental Education and Circular Economy: Implications for Accelerating SDGs," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-26, February.

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