ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief introduction to the way the relationship between the environment and education has evolved over the last 50 years. The starting point is the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment which was held in Stockholm, Sweden. The conference, commonly referred to in environmental circles as the Stockholm conference, was the first to place the environment at the heart of global dialogues. It brought together delegations from 114 member states to carve collaborative pathways towards a more environmentally sound future. The Stockholm conference is also celebrated for being the first international meeting to formally recognise the vital role education plays in limiting human impact on the environment and seeking a healthy relationship between people and planet. This chapter provides a brief introduction to educational approaches, contexts, and themes that have featured prominently in the academic narrative and educational practice over the decades, from the 1970s until the 2020s. It will also present the paradigm shifts that have shaped engagement with formal, informal, and non-formal learning for the environment and sustainability. As the world looks forward, the authors recognise that education and learning must play their part in helping to navigate our urgent efforts towards more sustainable futures. This chapter summarises some of the key thinking and ways forward proposed in this book.
