Geoethics and Sustainability: Addressing Challenges in Environmental Education for Achieving the SDGs

Samuel Mendonça (), Gabriel Franco Piovesana and Vanessa Pissolito
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Samuel Mendonça: Education Postgraduate Program, School of Human, Legal and Social Sciences, Campus I, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas 13087-571, Brazil
Gabriel Franco Piovesana: Education Postgraduate Program, School of Human, Legal and Social Sciences, Campus I, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas 13087-571, Brazil
Vanessa Pissolito: Education Postgraduate Program, School of Human, Legal and Social Sciences, Campus I, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas 13087-571, Brazil

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: Geoethics, which explores the ethical implications of Earth sciences, requires a philosophical effort to deepen our understanding of the field. Sustainability, particularly in the context of the energy transition, necessitates a critical examination of the limits to societal development. While advancing new forms of energy production is crucial, it is equally important to investigate the ethical boundaries of such studies. This article addresses the question: how can environmental education, in the context of sustainability and geoethics, respond to the challenges posed by SDG Goals 3 and 4? These goals—Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, and Quality Education—are fundamental for preserving global living conditions. This study explores how environmental education can tackle sustainability issues from an ethical standpoint, focusing on geoethics as a key dimension. Using bibliographic research, exploratory and critical analysis as method, the paper examines the intersection of geoethics and sustainability, with particular emphasis on the ethical dimensions of energy transition. The findings underscore the urgent need to improve education—especially in schools—to prepare children and young people to navigate the ethical limits of sustainability. A secondary outcome of this paper is to highlight the critical role of ethics in shaping environmental education for a sustainable future.

Keywords: environmental education; geoethics; SDG; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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