Learning for Sustainability (LfS) is an approach to life and learning which enables learners, educators, schools and their wider communities to build a socially-just, sustainable and equitable society. An effective whole school and community approach to LfS weaves together global citizenship, sustainable development education and outdoor learning to create coherent, rewarding and transformative learning experiences.

LfS is an entitlement for all learners within Curriculum for Excellence. LfS is embedded within the General Teaching Council of Scotland Professional Standards for practitioners and permeates How good is our school? [Fourth edition]. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are central to Scotland’s national vision and are at the heart of the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework.

Target 2030: Scotland’s Learning for Sustainability Action Plan

The refreshed Learning for Sustainability Action Plan places sustainability at the centre of the Scottish education system. The new plan includes an ambitious commitment to ensure that every school and early learning setting in Scotland will be sustainable by 2030. Further actions in the new plan include development of new LfS related qualifications, commitments to outdoor learning, setting up a new online LfS portal, establishing a LfS Mentor Network for educators and a children and young people LfS Leadership Group.

Launching the strategy at Grove Academy in Dundee, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said:

“Perhaps more than any other group, our children and young people recognise the importance of climate and social justice. The new Target 2030 ambition within the strategy is about placing sustainability at the heart of the education system, revolutionising what and how students learn. This strategy is about building a powerful movement for change. I look forward to seeing how children, young people, learners and educators embrace this new strategy and how the Scottish education system changes to meet the challenges of tomorrow as a result of this inspirational work.”

Consultation reports

The following two consultation reports were commissioned by Scottish Government to support the development of the strengthened Learning for Sustainability Action Plan:

• Learning for Sustainability (Part 1) Report, Children’s Parliament (2022)

• Learning for Sustainability: Learner and Practitioner Perspectives, University of Dundee (2023)

Join the conversation

Help us to make learning for sustainability part of everyday learning for everyone. You can join the conversation by:

• following us on X @EdScotLfS

• joining our LfS Practitioner Network in MS Teams in Glow

• reading our LfS blog

• checking our outdoor learning and children’s right’s pages