CHAPTER 2: Education for Sustainable Development and Chemistry Education

The years between 2005 and 2014 were declared by the United Nations as worldwide Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD). The intended purpose of DESD is to promote and more thoroughly focus education as a crucial tool, preparing young people to be responsible future citizens, so that our future generations can shape society in a sustainable manner. All educational levels and domains are to be involved in contributing to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), including chemistry. This paper explores the meaning of sustainable development, education for sustainable development and what ESD pedagogy will mean for chemistry education. It provides an overview of different models suggesting how such integration of sustainability issues can be compatible with chemistry education. Some consequences and implications arising from this approach will also be discussed.