The article is devoted to a sociological analysis of the formation of ecological culture among Russians in the context of sustainable development goals. Based on extensive theoretical and empirical material, the article analyzes the problematic situations that develop in the practices of the formation of environmental culture in Russia. Special attention is paid to the results of international and domestic research with the subject of environmental culture research. As a result, the article highlights promising areas of research that are necessary to develop a social mechanism for the formation of ecological culture in Russia. These areas include issues of trust in authorities and civil institutions in matters of environmental activities; environmental values; the influence of the information environment; awareness of the population about the goals of sustainable development.