Connecting Education for Sustainability and Cultural Competency: A Literature Review — Version 0.1

This literature review (Version 0.1) explores the burgeoning intersection of Education for Sustainability (EfS) and Cultural Competency (CC) within higher education. Moving beyond traditional disciplinary silos, the review identifies these frameworks as a synergistic paradigm essential for navigating the dual crises of ecological collapse and socio-cultural conflict. By synthesising diverse scholarship — ranging from healthcare-originated CC models to transformative environmental pedagogies — the authors highlight six key points of overlap: definitions and context; competencies and criticality; interdisciplinarity; the deconstruction of power; assessment reform; and the role of educators and learners as agents of change. Rather than an exhaustive survey, this document is a situated exploration of the theoretical and political commitments necessary to foster a holistic educational approach. It serves as the companion piece to the EfS-CC Educational Toolkit, providing the bibliographic evidence for a pedagogy that entwines nature and culture in the pursuit of social justice.