Surreal classroom with forest textbooks and climate data chalkboard, symbolizing integrated environmental education.

Is Environmental Education Lost in High School? A Look at Curriculum Gaps

Beau Callahan in Mind & Education July 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research reveals how environmental themes get sidelined in later education, and what steps can help to integrate a sustainability focus into schools."

In an era defined by climate concerns and sustainability imperatives, environmental education (EE) has become crucial. It empowers students to understand complex ecological challenges and to participate in creating solutions. Yet, despite its recognized importance, how well is environmental education integrated into the school curriculum?

A recent study dives into this question, analyzing national curriculum documents to assess the presence and depth of environmental themes in Brazilian high schools. This research builds on earlier investigations that focused on elementary education, providing a comparative look at how environmental topics are treated across different educational stages.

This article will explore the study’s key findings, highlighting the gaps and opportunities in current approaches to environmental education. By understanding these insights, educators, policymakers, and advocates can work together to enhance curriculum and empower students to become informed and engaged environmental stewards.

The Vanishing Act: Environmental Themes in High School Curricula

Surreal classroom with forest textbooks and climate data chalkboard, symbolizing integrated environmental education.

The research reveals a significant disparity: environmental themes are far less prominent and impactful in high school curriculum documents compared to elementary school. Where elementary education emphasizes environmental topics—often through dedicated themes and activities—high school curricula tend to dilute or marginalize these issues.

This decline isn't just about quantity; it also reflects a shift in approach. High school curricula often adopt a conservationist or scientific perspective, presenting environmental issues through a narrow lens. This approach tends to:

Reduce complexity: Over simplifying multifaceted environmental problems.
Limit critical engagement: Discouraging students from exploring the political and social dimensions of environmental issues.
Promote a passive role: Encouraging observation rather than active participation in solutions.

In essence, the study points to a missed opportunity. High school represents a crucial stage for developing critical thinking and empowering students to become active participants in environmental stewardship. However, the current curriculum often falls short, potentially leaving students ill-equipped to tackle the sustainability challenges that they will inevitably face.

A Glimmer of Hope and a Call to Action

Despite the challenges identified, the study does offer a beacon of hope: the new National Curriculum Guidelines for High School show promise. These guidelines signal a move towards integrating critical environmental education into the national curriculum for basic education. By emphasizing critical thinking and engagement, the new guidelines could pave the way for a more comprehensive and empowering approach to environmental education.

To fully realize this potential, several steps are crucial: Curriculum reform: Advocate for the integration of environmental themes across all subject areas, not just science. Teacher training: Equip educators with the knowledge and skills to teach environmental topics effectively and promote critical discussion. Community engagement: Encourage partnerships between schools, local organizations, and community members to create hands-on learning opportunities and foster a sense of environmental responsibility.

By addressing the gaps in environmental education and embracing a more holistic and critical approach, we can empower the next generation to become informed, engaged, and effective stewards of our planet. It’s time to ensure that environmental education isn't a vanishing act but a vital and thriving component of every student's learning journey.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1590/1983-21172015170210, Alternate LINK

Title: A Temática Ambiental Em Documentos Curriculares Nacionais Do Ensino Médio

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Ensaio Pesquisa em Educação em Ciências (Belo Horizonte)

Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)

Authors: Diógenes Valdanha, Clarice Sumi Kawasaki

Published: 2015-08-01

Everything You Need To Know

How does environmental education in high school differ from elementary school?

Environmental education in high schools seems to take a back seat compared to elementary school. The research indicates that while elementary education often includes dedicated environmental themes and activities, high school curricula tend to downplay these issues. This decline also involves a change in perspective, where environmental issues are often presented through a narrower, more conservationist or scientific lens, simplifying complex problems and limiting critical engagement.

In what ways does the high school curriculum narrow the scope of environmental themes?

The shift in high school curricula often oversimplifies multifaceted environmental problems, limiting critical engagement by discouraging students from exploring the political and social dimensions of environmental issues. This approach promotes a passive role, where students are encouraged to observe rather than actively participate in finding solutions.

What positive changes are anticipated with the new National Curriculum Guidelines for High School?

The study highlights that the new National Curriculum Guidelines for High School show promise. These guidelines signal a move towards integrating critical environmental education into the national curriculum for basic education, emphasizing critical thinking and engagement. This shift could lead to a more comprehensive and empowering approach to environmental education, preparing students to tackle sustainability challenges effectively.

Why is environmental education deemed so vital for students?

Environmental education is crucial because it empowers students to understand complex ecological challenges and participate in creating solutions. Without it, students may lack the critical thinking skills necessary to address the political and social dimensions of environmental issues, hindering their ability to become active participants in environmental stewardship. This education is essential for fostering informed and engaged environmental stewards.

What was the scope of the study examining environmental education in Brazilian high schools?

The study focused on analyzing national curriculum documents to assess the presence and depth of environmental themes in Brazilian high schools. It builds upon earlier investigations that focused on elementary education, providing a comparative look at how environmental topics are treated across different educational stages. By understanding the gaps and opportunities in current approaches, educators, policymakers, and advocates can work together to enhance curriculum and empower students.