Abstract
The ideological basis of education for sustainable development is primarily formed by environmental education. It is an essential component and the first step in the development of education for sustainable development. The article examines the relationship between environmental education and education for sustainable development, their standard features and distinctive features. Education for sustainable development is inextricably linked with environmental education. Each of these areas, being independent, can develop together with more effectively. The principles declared by the Tbilisi Declaration and faced with the shortcomings of environmental education can be implemented through education for sustainable development. Education for sustainable development can effectively use traditional environmental education's positive achievements, complementing economic, social, and cultural contexts. The new paradigm of sustainable development education involves solving many problems related to the formation of education as the leading social institution and the development of a new system of values. It is necessary to ensure close interaction of education with social, political and cultural processes,strengthen the connection between education and science, ensure informatization and greening of education, etc. However, it is necessary to solve the problem of understanding education for sustainable development as education about sustainable development.