IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i6p3451-d520921.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Global Learning for Sustainable Development: A Historical Review

Author

Listed:
  • Birgitta Nordén

    (Faculty of Education and Society, Malmö University, 20506 Malmö, Sweden
    Co-first author, these authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Helen Avery

    (Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden
    Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden
    Department of Languages, Linnaeus University, 35195 Växjö, Sweden
    Co-first author, these authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Despite continued efforts by educators, UN declarations and numerous international agreements, progress is still limited in handling major global challenges such as ecosystem collapse, accelerating climate change, poverty, and inequity. The capacity to collaborate globally on addressing these issues remains weak. This historical review of research on global learning for sustainable development (GLSD) aims to clarify the diverse directions that research on GLSD has taken, to present the historical development of the research area, and highlight emerging research issues. The review summarizes key findings of 53 peer-reviewed publications, published in English in the period 1994–2020 identified with the search terms “global learning” and “sustainable development”, sustainability or GLSD, respectively. The review documented a gradually growing knowledge base, mostly authored by scholars located in the global North. Conclusions point to what we might achieve if we could learn from one another in new ways, moving beyond Northern-centric paradigms. It is also time to re-evaluate core assumptions that underlie education for sustainable development more generally, such as a narrow focus on formal learning institutions. The review provides a benchmark for future reviews of research on GLSD, reveals the emerging transformative structure of this transdisciplinary field, and offers reference points for further research.

Suggested Citation

  • Birgitta Nordén & Helen Avery, 2021. "Global Learning for Sustainable Development: A Historical Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-31, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3451-:d:520921
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/6/3451/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/6/3451/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. World Commission on Environment and Development,, 1987. "Our Common Future," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780192820808.
    2. Paul Jones, 2019. "The Case for Inclusion of International Planning Studios in Contemporary Urban Planning Pedagogy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Martín Bascopé & Paolo Perasso & Kristina Reiss, 2019. "Systematic Review of Education for Sustainable Development at an Early Stage: Cornerstones and Pedagogical Approaches for Teacher Professional Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-16, January.
    4. Philip Hallinger & Vien-Thong Nguyen, 2020. "Mapping the Landscape and Structure of Research on Education for Sustainable Development: A Bibliometric Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, March.
    5. Jie Dong, 2020. "Global Learning from the Periphery: An Ethnographic Study of a Chinese Urban Migrant School," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, January.
    6. Liu, Hengwei & Liang, Dapeng, 2013. "A review of clean energy innovation and technology transfer in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 486-498.
    7. M. Teresa Fuertes-Camacho & Mariona Graell-Martín & Mariana Fuentes-Loss & M. Carmen Balaguer-Fàbregas, 2019. "Integrating Sustainability into Higher Education Curricula through the Project Method, a Global Learning Strategy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-25, February.
    8. Jelle Boeve-de Pauw & Niklas Gericke & Daniel Olsson & Teresa Berglund, 2015. "The Effectiveness of Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-25, November.
    9. Gabriela Grosseck & Laurențiu Gabriel Țîru & Ramona Alice Bran, 2019. "Education for Sustainable Development: Evolution and Perspectives: A Bibliometric Review of Research, 1992–2018," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-35, November.
    10. Jung-Kyoo Choi, 2008. "Play locally, learn globally: group selection and structural basis of cooperation," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 239-257, December.
    11. Steven J. Lade & Will Steffen & Wim Vries & Stephen R. Carpenter & Jonathan F. Donges & Dieter Gerten & Holger Hoff & Tim Newbold & Katherine Richardson & Johan Rockström, 2020. "Human impacts on planetary boundaries amplified by Earth system interactions," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(2), pages 119-128, February.
    12. Waddell, Steve & McLachlan, Milla & Dentoni, Domenico, 2013. "Learning & Transformative Networks to Address Wicked Problems: A GOLDEN Invitation," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 16(A), pages 1-10.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ekaterina Blinova & Tatyana Ponomarenko & Valentin Knysh, 2022. "Analyzing the Concept of Corporate Sustainability in the Context of Sustainable Business Development in the Mining Sector with Elements of Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-30, July.
    2. Adar Ben-Eliyahu, 2021. "Sustainable Learning in Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-10, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Esther Prieto-Jiménez & Luis López-Catalán & Blanca López-Catalán & Guillermo Domínguez-Fernández, 2021. "Sustainable Development Goals and Education: A Bibliometric Mapping Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Eva-Maria Waltner & Werner Rieß & Christoph Mischo, 2019. "Development and Validation of an Instrument for Measuring Student Sustainability Competencies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Fatma Fourati-Jamoussi & Michel J. F. Dubois & Marie Chedru & Geoffroy Belhenniche, 2021. "Education for Sustainable Development and Innovation in Engineering School: Students’ Perception," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Shih-Yeh Chen & Shiang-Yao Liu, 2020. "Developing Students’ Action Competence for a Sustainable Future: A Review of Educational Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-14, February.
    5. Sohag, Kazi & Taşkın, F. Dilvin & Malik, Muhammad Nasir, 2019. "Green economic growth, cleaner energy and militarization: Evidence from Turkey," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1-1.
    6. Coral Campbell & Christopher Speldewinde, 2022. "Early Childhood STEM Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-11, March.
    7. Atif Saleem & Philip Saagyum Dare, 2023. "Unmasking the Action-Oriented ESD Approach to Acting Environmentally Friendly," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-22, January.
    8. Pablo Ruiz-Palomino & Ricardo Martínez-Cañas & Pedro Jiménez-Estévez, 2019. "Are Corporate Social Responsibility Courses Effective? A Longitudinal and Gender-Based Analysis in Undergraduate Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-17, October.
    9. Fatma Fourati-Jamoussi & Michel J.F. Dubois & Marie Chedru & Geoffroy Belhenniche, 2021. "Education for Sustainable Development and Innovation in Engineering School: Students’ Perception," Post-Print hal-03245437, HAL.
    10. Charlotte S. Diepolder & Holger Weitzel & Johannes Huwer, 2021. "Competence Frameworks of Sustainable Entrepreneurship: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-26, December.
    11. Anna Beniermann & Martin Glos & Heike Schumacher & Ingo Fietze & Stephan Völker & Annette Upmeier zu Belzen, 2023. "‘Sleep Blindness’ in Science Education: How Sleep Health Literacy Can Serve as a Link between Health Education and Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-22, August.
    12. Maria Hofman-Bergholm, 2022. "Storytelling as an Educational Tool in Sustainable Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-14, March.
    13. Eleni Sinakou & Vincent Donche & Jelle Boeve-de Pauw & Peter Van Petegem, 2019. "Designing Powerful Learning Environments in Education for Sustainable Development: A Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-23, October.
    14. Fengtao Guo & Joseph Lane & Yushan Duan & Joseph P. Stoltman & Olga Khlebosolova & Hao Lei & Weiguo Zhou, 2018. "Sustainable Development in Geography Education for Middle School in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-27, October.
    15. Michiel van Harskamp & Marie-Christine P. J. Knippels & Wouter R. van Joolingen, 2021. "Secondary Science Teachers’ Views on Environmental Citizenship in The Netherlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-22, July.
    16. Julia Lohmann & Jennifer Breithecker & Ulrike Ohl & Petra Gieß-Stüber & Hans Peter Brandl-Bredenbeck, 2021. "Teachers’ Professional Action Competence in Education for Sustainable Development: A Systematic Review from the Perspective of Physical Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-26, December.
    17. Estébanez, Raquel Pérez & Grande, Elena Urquía & Cañizares Espada, Manuela & Villacorta, Miguel Ángel & Lorain, Marie Anne & Martín, Gracia Rubio, 2023. "Rethinking international cooperation in Higher Education Institutions, in the post COVID world from the student’s perspective," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    18. Chen Cheng & Yongping Yu, 2022. "Early Childhood Educators’ Practices in Education for Sustainable Development in China: Evidence from Shandong Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-20, February.
    19. Pia Spangenberger & Nadine Matthes & Linda Kruse & Iken Draeger & Susanne Narciss & Felix Kapp, 2020. "Experiences with a Serious Game Introducing Basic Knowledge About Renewable Energy Technologies: A Practical Implementation in a German Secondary School," Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, , vol. 14(2), pages 253-270, September.
    20. Mechthild Donner & Anne Verniquet & Jan Broeze & Katrin Kayser & Hugo de Vries, 2021. "Critical success and risk factors for circular business models valorising agricultural waste and by-products," Post-Print hal-03004851, HAL.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3451-:d:520921. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.