The article examines the state of environmental education in general and innovative technologies for the formation of environmental competence of high school students in the educational system of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The results of our own research on environmental education and the results obtained after the application of innovative technologies for the formation of environmental competence of high school students are presented: discussion of the results of the questionnaire before and after the elective course entitled "Ecology and sustainable development". The results of the survey showed that conducting an elective course using innovative technologies in environmental education is the most useful, convenient and necessary method of forming environmental competence of high school students of secondary schools. Based on the results of the survey, it was possible to determine which topic should be emphasized when drawing up the elective course program and on which topics innovative technologies such as the use of ICT, group design and research work, group work, promotions, as well as what knowledge, skills and abilities should be given when conducting a course on ecology. And the results of the questionnaire on the topic of "Rational nutrition" made it clear that the ignorance of students on the topic of proper nutrition that it is necessary to include this topic in the elective course program, and at the same time to focus on human health with frequent eating of quickly prepared food.