A brief overview of research on educational problems for sustainable development in China

The article presents the overview of research on the concept of "education for sustainable development" implemented in the People's Republic of China within the framework of the state strategy for modernization. The author analyzes the reasons for the use of the concepts of "environmental education" (1980s-1990s) and "education for sustainable development" (2000s) in the Chinese scientific community during different periods. It is suggested that the actualization of research on this topic and putting the concept of "education for sustainable development" into circulation are determined by external factors, primarily the holding of large-scale international conferences on sustainable development under aegis of the UN at the turn of the century. The ideas laid down in the concept of sustainable development to some extent coincided with the goals of China's development in the early 21st century, which faced the need to solve accumulated environmental problems. The article also analyzes the problems of implementing education for sustainable development that the Chinese scientific community currently faces.