Chapter 11: Environmental sustainability in education research ethics

Citation

Dunlop L & Rushton E (2026) Chapter 11: Environmental sustainability in education research ethics. In: Fox A, Baker S, Brown N, Cortney M, Quickfail A, Tegama N & Chong S (eds.) Ethical dilemmas in education research. London: Bloomsbury. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/ethical-dilemmas-in-educational-research-9781350450813/

Abstract
Climate change and environmental sustainability have, until recently, been infrequently included in formal processes for making judgements about education research ethics. Through this chapter, we identify where and how environmental considerations may intersect with research processes and decision-making, independent of the focus of a research project. We present questions as starting points to explore ethical dilemmas. We underscore the need to uphold responsibilities to people and the planet, whilst enabling the development of education research. Questions to different groups including researchers, including those who supervise, lead and fund research can serve as interruptions of the status quo and can continue to draw attention to the need for accelerated climate action and new approaches to research which foreground environmental justice.

Keywords
environmental sustainability; climat change; environmental justice; questions; ethical dilemmas; research ethics; reponsibilities