Educating ecological literacy and a conscious attitude to the world around us is a long and purposeful process, which is based on the didactic principles of pedagogy and the laws of nature. The problem of the formation of an ecologically cultured and competent personality is now becoming one of the central and significant ones. Environmental literacy consists of such components as environmental knowledge, assessment of the surrounding reality, foreseeing the consequences of human activity in nature, studying all methods of competent nature management and striving for environmental protection. Thus, environmental literacy is a product of environmental education and upbringing. The direct formation of environmental literacy occurs in the process of the purposeful influence of the teacher. An ecologically developing environment in an educational organization should contribute to the development of the student’s cognitive activity, broadening his horizons, ecological and aesthetic development, and the formation of a holistic picture of the world.

The need to overcome the environmental problems of our time has set a task for pedagogical theory and practice: on the basis of the biosphere approach, to prepare an environmentally literate person who understands the importance of life as the highest value, who is able to determine his place in the world, participate in environmental protection, rationally use natural resources, make conscious decisions in the spheres of life where the interests of man as a living being, society and the environment overlap. In the system of training an environmentally literate person, an important role belongs to educational organizations of all levels, which can be considered as the initial link in enriching a person with knowledge about the natural and social environment, familiarizing him with a holistic picture of the world and forming a scientifically grounded, humane attitude towards society. Environmental education is designed to provide the young generation with scientific knowledge about the relationship between nature and society, to help understand the multifaceted significance of nature for society in general and for each person in particular, to form an understanding that nature is the primary basis of human existence, and man is a part of nature, to educate a conscious attitude towards it, a sense of responsibility for the environment as a universal value, develop creative activities to protect and transform the environment, cultivate love for nature. Environmental education and upbringing is a systematic pedagogical activity that is aimed at developing the environmental culture of a person. Environmental education of a person is a continuous process of learning and development throughout his life, which is expressed in the formation of an ecological culture, which manifests itself in an emotional and positive attitude towards nature, in compliance with certain moral norms, in a system of value orientations.

Socio–economic processes have accelerated in the information society, technological cycles are not 20–30 years, as before, but 3–5, which radically changes the tasks of professional training of personnel of all levels and specialties. The problem of environmental education has now gone beyond national boundaries and acquired international importance. Domestic pedagogy should more actively introduce scientific developments and achievements into educational practice, in particular, through new special courses, technologies for the formation of ecological thinking, consciousness, and culture of university students, using modern psychological and pedagogical approaches. The intellectual potential of a country determines its place and role in the international arena. Today, the cost of this product in the economic exchange of developed countries is close to the value of the mass of commodities, therefore, domestic education should become a priority, widespread field of activity in the state, and environmental education – the most prestigious, most powerful basis for active and vital research in various areas: social , technical, medical, pedagogical, economic. Practical and theoretical contributions to the world education and science system can raise the level of national environmental and educational achievements to a prominent place in the world.

The complex and contradictory situation in the relationship between society and the environment has raised a number of important problems, the solution of which lies in the field of environmental education. The environmental problem is one of the most exciting and dramatic human problems of the 21st century. Signs of the global ecological crisis of humanity, set before each individual the task of mastering the principles of managing their lives, which are in constant interaction with the environment, the tasks of rational nature management and awareness of the role, place and importance of man in the evolution of the Earth and Space. The priority of any educational system is the formation of a holistic worldview and ecological culture of the individual and society, within which it is necessary to perform a socio-ecological function. The growing interest and concern of both the public and State institutions to the problems of nature surrounding humans in developed countries is becoming obvious.