Environmental education and sustainability: a multidimensional analysis of the relationship between pedagogy and nature in Italian and international documents

Environmental education is a critical tool for understanding the relationship between humanity and the natural world, promoting sustainability for future generations. It fosters collaboration among all social actors to address environmental challenges and highlights the interconnectedness of economics, politics, society, and ecology. Rooted in holistic principles, environmental education encompasses the “about, for, and through” environment approach, aimed at shaping responsible, informed citizens. Over time, its significance has grown due to increasing environmental crises, reinforced by initiatives like the Tbilisi Declaration, Agenda 2030, and the Aarhus Convention. In Italy, it has been integrated into educational policies such as the National Indications (MIUR, 2012) and the 2014 Environmental Education Guidelines for Sustainable Development. Environmental education emphasizes developing attitudes, behaviors, and actions that contribute to environmental protection and sustainability. It combines awareness-building with concrete actions to safeguard the environment, ensuring students not only learn but engage actively in preserving their world.