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Abstract In recent years there has been a growing consensus that environmental education should be orientated around the idea of ‘sustainable development’. This paper examines some of the ambiguities and tensions that exist within this notion and suggests that its considerable attractions may be outweighed by its lack of clarity with regard to a range of fundamental values and principles which motivate environmental concern. It is argued that our relationship with nature is a central element of our sense of identity and that whereas sustainable development is highly problematical when taken as a statement of policy, sustainability conceived of as a frame of mind may have positive and wide‐reaching educational implications. Issues concerning the kinds of knowledge and approaches to teaching that should characterise environmental education are raised.
Michael Bonnett (Mon,) studied this question.