Place-based environmental education: a capabilities approach using head, heart and hands

Abstract

Young people live in a world increasingly affected by environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change, crises which can trigger eco-anxiety and diminish agency. Current technical and instrumental approaches to education exacerbate this by failing to focus on environmental issues in holistic, multi-dimensional ways. This paper contends that place-based education, underpinned by a capabilities approach, can encourage hope and agency by reimagining curriculum aims through local lenses. The Morecambe Bay Curriculum (MBC) is presented as an illustrative case study, demonstrating how educators can overcome both environmental and educational ‘tragedies of the commons’ through grassroots curriculum reform.By analysing co-created strategy documents, teaching resources and educators’ reflections, we examine how the MBC operationalises the Head, Heart, Hands framework to support young people’s capabilities. This develops critical knowledge (Head), builds emotional connections (Heart), and enables meaningful environmental action (Hands). This educational model offers a replicable approach which fosters agency and wellbeing freedoms.