Environmental Education

Environmental Sustainability from the Perspective of Complex Thinking

Abstract

This integrative review aims to discuss the contributions of environmental education, as a public policy, to promoting environmental sustainability from the perspective of complex thinking. The research explores the contributions of thinkers such as Edgar Morin, Moacir Gadotti, Enrique Leff and Leonardo Boff, who play a fundamental role in advancing education aimed at sustainability. The approach of complexity, interdisciplinarity and critical education is considered essential for facing contemporary environmental challenges and promoting sustainable practices in society. Environmental education is understood here as a set of shared norms, knowledge and practices that foster environmental citizenship, promoting understanding of ecological challenges and encouraging the adoption of sustainable behaviours. Complexity theory is adopted as an analytical lens for a deeper understanding of sustainability, since it recognises the interconnections and dynamics between natural and social systems, as well as economic and environmental aspects. This study discusses Complexity Theory in the context of sustainability, reflecting on the challenges that threaten the continuity of life on the planet. By providing a systemic and ethical vision, complexity proves to be a valuable tool for understanding the interrelationships of environmental problems. In this way, environmental education, anchored in complexity, facilitates a critical view of sustainability and encourages thought in the educational context, contributing to the formation of citizens who are more aware of and committed to sustainable practices.