Education for sustainable development: definitions, debates and design

The aim of this chapter is to explore what Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is and might be. ESD is for and not merely about sustainable development, going beyond the concept of literacy. There are different understandings of this term, and whilst a lack of clarity can impede action, it also enables different groups to develop their own contextualised understanding. ESD is the process of creating curricula, including subject-relevant content and pedagogy, to support sustainable development, which is an aspirational ongoing process of addressing social, environmental and economic concerns to create a better world. In higher education, it includes a deeper critical analysis and resolution of some real-world problems. Much of the research underpinning ESD has derived from the global north, and there is a need to incorporate more concepts from the global south. ESD is relevant to all disciplines and all institutions. The concept and practice of education for sustainable development overlap with other agendas for a quality education, entrepreneurship and decolonisation of the curriculum.