Enhancing education through learning for sustainability: an explorative review of broader benefits

Learning for sustainability (LfS) encompasses holistic, interdisciplinary experiences that equip learners with essential sustainability competences. The 2018 Council Recommendation on key competences for lifelong learning emphasises improving, among others, basic skills (such as literacy and numeracy), competences in STEM, and digital competences, while fostering citizenship and appreciating cultural diversity. This study aims to explore how LfS contributes to those broader learning outcomes, particularly in (pre-)primary and secondary education. The present report reveals some broader learning benefits of LfS related to basic skills, transversal skills, psychological benefits, and institutional benefits. Many studies have reported these benefits within the context of outdoor, nature-based learning for sustainability settings.