To mark World Sustainability Day 2025 (29 October), we launched the Young People’s Views and Experiences of Learning for Sustainability in Scotland report, which explores what sustainable learning means in real life, and how decision-makers can use youth voices to make change.
The research was led by the Learning for Sustainability Youth Leadership Group (YLG) and follows fifteen workshops carried out across Scotland. The findings are grouped into three key areas: education reform; promotion of Learning for Sustainability in the curriculum and community; and outdoor learning and residentials.
‘Learning for Sustainability (LfS) is an approach to life and learning which enables learners, educators, schools and their wider communities to build a fair, sustainable and equitable society. An effective whole school and community approach to LfS weaves together global citizenship, sustainable development, education and outdoor learning to create coherent, rewarding and transformative learning experiences.’ (Education Scotland, 2024)
Since 2022, SYP has worked closely with the Scottish Government Learning for Sustainability team to ensure young people are meaningfully involved in their work. In 2022, we carried out a consultation workshop to inform the Learning for Sustainability Action Plan 2023-2030, and our Learning for Sustainability Youth Leadership Group was established in 2023.
Mary-Martha Dickie, MSYP for Girlguiding Scotland and a member of YLG, commented:
Young people want Learning for Sustainability to be something we live, not just something we learn about. We believe it should be part of every subject and every learning experience, not an extra pressure or another thing to add to our timetables. True sustainability is about wellbeing, fairness, and understanding how our choices shape the world around us.
This report shows that we’re asking for clearer guidance, better communication, and real opportunities to take part in decision-making about how Learning for Sustainability is delivered.
We want to thank our partners for their support throughout this piece of work to make sure Learning for Sustainability is accessible, inclusive, and meaningful.
In total, 220 young people aged between 11 and 18 took part in this research. If you have any questions about our Learning for Sustainability report, please contact our Participation and Programmes team at engagement@syp.org.uk.
