Environmental Education: theoretical framework for beginners

Abstract

Environmental education (EE) has been developing effectively in addressing civilizational challenges. A capacitation in EE is necessary for society. The main objective of this article is to provide a [1]comprehensive theoretical framework, albeit initial, as a roadmap for conceptual construction of EE. This theoretical construction was formulated with focus of offering a possible path for beginners in the EE field. The methodology adopted was the selection of eight references for each of the eleven lines of EE from emblematic works, partly obtained randomly through "Google Scholar" between June 2022 and 2023. They were obtained based on keywords derived from the titles of each of the eleven lines of EE + the words "concept" + "environmental education". A total of 88 references are proposed for the set of the following eleven lines: a) Ecological Literacy; b) EE and Science, Technology, Society, and Environment (STSE); c) Critical EE; d) EE and Complexity; e) Business EE/Licensing; f) Freirian EE; g) EE in Public Environmental Management; h) EE in addressing the Climate Emergency; i) EE for Socio Environmental Sustainability; j) Experiential EE; k) Ecopedagogy. This proposal for a theoretical framework may become a guide for beginners in contemporary Brazilian EE.