• Towards an Eco-Social Pedagogy

    Towards an Eco-Social Pedagogy


This International Journal of Social Pedagogy special series publishes articles on eco-social pedagogy, which explores how social pedagogy can respond to the climate emergency through relationship-centred and justice-focused approaches. At its core, this work recognises that environmental justice and social justice are deeply interconnected, and that addressing climate change requires a holistic view of the wellbeing of both people and the planet.

This series examines how social pedagogy can contribute to addressing environmental challenges by supporting communities affected by climate change, fostering political agency, and developing innovative approaches that integrate ecological awareness into everyday practice. It draws on concepts such as planetary pedagogy, eco-social work, nature pedagogy, ecosystemic wellbeing, and community-based environmental initiatives to expand the scope of social pedagogy for a sustainable future.

By exploring these intersections, this special series offers a framework for understanding and practising eco-social pedagogy. It highlights the urgent need to extend human relationships beyond each other to include our relationship with the natural world, emphasising the importance of protecting ecosystems, biodiversity, and the rights of future generations.

Articles are published open access and can be read freely online by anyone; please see the article list below.

Publication date: From June 2025, onwards.



Editors

Arto O.Salonen, University of Eastern Finland, Finland.

Katrin Bain, London Metropolitan University, UK.

Gabriel Eichsteller, ThemPra Social Pedagogy, UK.

Robyn Kemp, Social Pedagogy Professional Association, UK.



Articles


Research article


An ecophenomenological interpretation of planetary social pedagogy

Raisa Foster

2025-11-05 Volume 14 • Issue 1 • 2025

Also a part of:

Special series: Towards an Eco-Social Pedagogy

Trees, ears and the space between: exploring the practices of transformative pedagogies, including response-ability and reciprocity, with primary school children in Manchester

Raichael Lock and Ryan Woods

2025-10-01 Volume 14 • Issue 1 • 2025

Also a part of:

Special series: Towards an Eco-Social Pedagogy

De-bordering solidarities: using eco-craftivism as an eco-social pedagogy in primary education

Jon Mulholland, Verity Jones, Chris Pawson and Lizzie Harrison

2025-08-06 Volume 14 • Issue 1 • 2025

Also a part of:

Special series: Towards an Eco-Social Pedagogy

Beyond theory: arts-based practices and cultural ethos for transformative eco-social learning

Taina de Carvalho

2025-07-08 Volume 14 • Issue 1 • 2025

Also a part of:

Special series: Towards an Eco-Social Pedagogy

Review


An eco-social turn in social pedagogy

Elina Nivala and Sanna Ryynänen

2025-06-03 Volume 14 • Issue 1 • 2025

Also a part of:

Special series: Towards an Eco-Social Pedagogy

Perspective


Funding community resilience in a polycrisis: exploring a Human Learning Systems (+)-based approach

Gary White, Milja Franck, Eddie Harris, Olive Ezike, Mubaraq Adewale Razaq and Itunuoluwa Odutayo

2026-01-14 Volume 15 • Issue 1 • 2026

Also a part of:

Special series: Towards an Eco-Social Pedagogy

Practice paper


Micro-dosing forest school? Children tell us what they think

Dermot Brady and Claire Jackson

2025-12-03 Volume 14 • Issue 1 • 2025

Also a part of:

Special series: Towards an Eco-Social Pedagogy

Using eco-social justice to develop a continuous professional development workshop exploring how education for sustainable development can be embedded into early childhood education and social care courses in South East Technological University, Ireland

Eileen Farrell and Lillian Byrne

2025-10-22 Volume 14 • Issue 1 • 2025

Also a part of:

Special series: Towards an Eco-Social Pedagogy