A Value-Based Framework Connecting Environmental Citizenship and Change Agents for Sustainability—Implications for Education for Environmental Citizenship

Civic agency is acknowledged as a key driver/catalyst for social transformation toward sustainability. Recent environmental citizenship education (EEC) models advocate transformative approach addressing unsustainability (addressing underlying structural causes) and the identification of development change agents, both means deep sustainability outcome EEC. Given paucity studies looking into psychological attributes this work aims to deepen theoretical understanding motivations that drive individuals act agents type extent they aspire effect, with view developing competent citizens. To end, conceptual applies Schwartz’s theory universal values construct three-level framework (EC) (individual-level, community-level, socially-transformative-level). Each level reflects an increasing driven by distinct motivational competences. The shares affinities qualitative typologies in literature but claims these different types reflect expanding ‘levels-of-concern’ change, expressed EC framework. paper then discusses curricular implications design meaningful EEC deriving from framework: Effective entails adapting learning EC-level learners educational organization. proposed EC/change provides scaffold such adaptation.