The implementation of education for sustainable development is a top priority. Environmental education serves as a tool for fostering a responsible, humane, and ethical attitude toward nature. At the current stage of human development, where environmental issues have reached a global scale, environmental education aims at transforming human consciousness and attitude toward nature. This article highlights the importance of organizing an educational process to inform children and the youth about environmental protection issues. Children and young people are the driving forces that will influence the environment in the future. The foundation for implementing an effective environmental education strategy lies in the institutional development of a three-tier system for environmental education: preschool institutions, general education schools, and higher education institutions. The effectiveness of environmental education can be achieved through the maximum integration of formal and informal environmental education efforts. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.