Opportunities for innovative environmental education in the interests of sustainable development

The article deals with the problem of environmental education from the standpoint of the concept of sustainable development. It is noted that in the XXI century. Due to the growing problems of modern ecology, it becomes necessary to restructure the system of Russian environmental education, taking into account the interests of sustainable development, primarily on the basis of an innovative competency-based approach, which involves the formation of environmental competence among students, based on a combination of worldview attitudes, knowledge, practical skills and abilities. It is emphasized that at present, due to the degradation of the natural environment, the growth of its pollution, which contributed to a negative change in the balance of the biosphere and climate, which ultimately worsened the health of mankind, it is the greening of education that should be one of the priority areas for improving the education system and be carried out in direct connection with the greening of all social relations. The system of higher education should set itself tasks related to increasing the efficiency of preparing students for professional environmental activities.