Problematising ‘Transformative’ Environmental Education in a Climate Crisis

The Editor's Introduction sets the stage for this Special Issue with calls for action in light of the climate crisis and other environmental problems sweeping our planet. It then offers a brief overview of the topics our contributors address, and in some cases the philosophical sources they brought into this conversation. It then surveys the background literature on ‘transformative’ environmental education, the topic being problematised and developed by our contributors. This review of the literature reveals a wide range of interpretations, but also shows some productive hybrids in terms of transformation and transgression: seen as opportunities for effecting the changes in attitude, values and behaviours we need for our collective survival. Questions of efficacy are briefly discussed, although it was not the purpose of this Special Issue to decide which are the most effective eco-pedagogies. In closing, we remark on the need for foresight in educational planning and policy, as in government generally, to address the magnitude of problems threatening all life on this planet.