This paper commends the extensive variety of creative, locally responsive environmental education activities and programs being implemented by schools and teachers, with the support of environmental groups and agencies, throughout Western Australia. It endorses the Western Australian Curriculum Framework and national and draft Western Australian environmental education strategies and action plans. It acknowledges Department of Education action learning support programs for teachers as well as structures that support local community engagement in schools. These provide a strong foundation for education for sustainability.

The paper points out the scale of the global and local environmental problems still to be faced. A tenfold reduction in consumption is required in industrialised countries such as Australia. Further, biodiversity loss needs to be reversed. The paper recommends that the education systems and schools include education for sustainability as their primary purpose. At the policy level, it recommends that education systems develop a vision for a sustainable society and orient towards learning for sustainability. It recommends that education for sustainability be mandatory in Western Australia. Also at the policy level it recommends an overturning of the policy contradictions which result in school based limitations to education for sustainability and environmental action. At the schools level, it recommends a continuation of, and greatly increased locally initiated and developed educational responses to issues of biodiversity loss and unsustainable consumption. Finally, it proposes a four stage model for schools to refer to as a community development path for learning towards sustainability.