Exploring the Sustainable Development Goals: Beyond the environmental dimension

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (UNESCO, 2015) identify that transformative action is required across all the dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic, social and political). The complexity of sustainability is evidenced by the intertwined and interconnected nature of the goals. Action in one area impacts outcomes in others.

Australian early childhood educators seeking to broaden their understandings of sustainability have been hampered by policies that position sustainability as being mainly about environmental responsibility, and offer little practice and pedagogical support for educators to enact ECEfS. In response, we showcase transformative pedagogies and practices to build collective participation in and advocacy for social-political-economic issues, particularly social inclusion, and how the SDGs might offer a framework for such work.