This area of practice brings together reflection, experience and action. It includes a podcast that explores sustainability through real perspectives from practice, an approach that frames how sustainability appears in everyday work with young people, and a set of methods and workshops that translate ideas into concrete activities. The materials can be used independently or combined, depending on your context and learning goals.
This podcast explores how sustainability is understood and practiced across different contexts of working with young people. It reflects on everyday decisions, responsibilities and tensions that shape sustainable behaviour, often beyond formal environmental education. The conversation brings together perspectives from youth work and other sectors, highlighting how sustainability is addressed intentionally in some contexts and remains implicit in others. The edited podcast transcript based on recorded discussion is available for download below.
Sustainability in practice is often shaped by contradictions. Young people are encouraged to care for the environment and society, while at the same time navigating systems that promote consumption, speed and short-term outcomes. This approach frames sustainability as an ongoing process rather than a fixed goal. It emphasises awareness, critical thinking and the ability to connect individual actions with wider social and environmental consequences. Working with sustainability means creating spaces where young people can question norms, experiment with alternatives and reflect on their own role within larger systems.
The following methods and workshops support practical engagement with sustainability. They are designed to encourage reflection, dialogue and action, and can be adapted to different groups, ages and contexts. The methods and workshops related to this area of practice are available as printable cards. You can download them below.
This area of practice can be combined with the Navigation Cards to deepen reflection and discussion. The cards can help explore personal positions on sustainability, challenge assumptions about responsibility and consumption, and reflect on the consequences of everyday choices.
They can be used before, during or after activities to support orientation and meaningful dialogue.