Building a sustainable future with young people

Education plays a key role in sustainability – not only in shaping awareness but in driving real transformation. The article highlights how reconnecting with nature and ourselves can become part of education and help young people build a life-sustaining society.

What educators, researchers, and policymakers should know about sustainability

Understanding sustainability is essential for anyone working with young people – whether as trainers, educators, researchers, or policymakers. Sustainability means maintaining the conditions that make life on Earth possible. While it’s often described as having three dimensions – social, economic, and environmental – the environmental one is the foundation of the others. Without healthy ecosystems, neither a stable economy nor a just society can exist, as both depend on nature’s balance and resilience.

Sustainability is much more than dealing with climate change. Scientists have identified nine planetary boundaries that define Earth’s safe operating space, and more than half of them have already been exceeded. These include biodiversity loss, soil degradation, freshwater depletion, and ocean acidification, among others. Climate change is only one piece of the puzzle. True sustainability requires systemic thinking – recognizing the interconnectedness between human activities, societal systems, and the natural processes that sustain life.

The way we live is not sustainable

Our current lifestyles far exceed the planet’s capacity – if everyone lived like us, we’d need several Earths. The problem lies not only in individual choices but in the systems shaping our economy, education, and politics, which often ignore ecological limits.

Systems thinking shows that much of our behavior is influenced by these structures. Real change, therefore, requires more than personal effort – it demands systems that make sustainability the natural and accessible choice.

What lies behind our unsustainable way of living?

Anthropocentrism – Humanity places itself above nature, forgetting we are part of it.
Eco-illiteracy – We don’t understand how natural systems work, so we fail to work in their favour.
Crisis of values – Consumption and image have replaced compassion and responsibility.
Disconnection from nature – Urban lifestyles cut us off from the rhythms of the Earth.
Disconnection from ourselves – In the digital world, we lose touch with our true selves and with others.

How can we support sustainability through our work with young people?

Even though the root causes of our unsustainable lifestyles are deep and complex, each of us — especially those working with and for young people — can contribute to shifting towards a more sustainable way of living. Here are a few key directions:

Recover Ecocentrism

Reimagine our worldview by placing nature, not humans, at the centre.

Educators, trainers, teachers can:

Learn and teach about ecocentric values and systems thinking.
Design projects and workshops that reflect the interconnectedness of all life.
Encourage reflection on our relationship with the natural world as a foundation for sustainability.

Pursue Global Ecoliteracy

Support young people in understanding how natural systems work and how human societies depend on them.
You can:

Use tools such as the European Sustainability Competence Framework (GreenComp) and eco-competences to build sustainability competences.
Create learning experiences that connect ecological principles with everyday life and decision-making.

Foster Intrinsic Values

Encourage values that nurture community and care — like kindness, cooperation, empathy, honesty, and social justice.
To do this, educators can:

Lead by example — embody the values they wish to inspire.
Use tools such as the ecoliteracy self-assesment tool for reflection on your own sustainability values.

Cultivate group activities that reward collaboration over competition.

Strengthen Connection with Nature

Support young people in rediscovering their bond with the natural world. Try:

The Work That Reconnects (Joanna Macy) – experiential activities that deepen our ecological awareness.
Solo in Nature – guided individual time outdoors, followed by group reflection.
Forest bathing – mindful immersion in natural surroundings.
Earthing or grounding – direct physical connection to natural surfaces.
Or any of the approaches in The Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature.

Encourage Connection with Ourselves

Sustainability begins within. Help young people reconnect to their inner selves through:

Guided meditation, journaling, and self-reflection exercises.
The Way of Council, to practice empathy, listening, and authentic communication.

Activities inspired by Bill Plotkin’s Soulcraft, focusing on purpose and wholeness.

When young people understand themselves and their values, they become more grounded, resilient, and ready to act as eco-conscious changemakers.

Building a sustainable future is not a small task — but it begins with awareness, connection, and collaboration. As Joanna Macy reminds us:

“A revolution is under way because people are realising that our needs can be met without destroying our world.”

Let’s be the ones who help guide the transition to life-sustaining societies — together with and through the next generation.

If you’d like to explore the topic in more depth, the full article offers a comprehensive look at the root causes of unsustainability and provides practical guidance for those working with young people toward a more sustainable future. Click here!