Environment plays a key role in supporting life on Earth. Almost everything that we need to survive (air, water, soil, energy etc.) comes from the environment. In fact, the quality of all living things depends on the health and welfare of the world ecosystems that provide us food, other environmental resources and ecologic services. However, we are ruining the environment unknowingly. A proper awareness of the problems related with natural ecosystems, biodiversity, their degradation and conservation is lacking even in many literates of our society. Environmental illiteracy is a must and unavoidable. A number of ecologically damaging activities could be stopped simply by informing people who indulge such activities about their consequences.
Environment plays a key role in supporting life on Earth. Almost everything that we need to survive (air, water, soil, energy etc.) comes from the environment. In fact, the quality of all living things depends on the health and welfare of the world ecosystems that provide us food, other environmental resources and ecologic services. However, we are ruining the environment unknowingly. A proper awareness of the problems related with natural ecosystems, biodiversity, their degradation and conservation is lacking even in many literates of our society. Environmental illiteracy is a must and unavoidable. A number of ecologically damaging activities could be stopped simply by informing people who indulge such activities about their consequences. Individuals , communities and human society as a whole should adequately acquire the skills, and posses will and experience to act solely as well as collectively to face the problems of environment. In this regard, environmental education can foster a positive pattern of conduct towards the proper use of natural resources. Resources available to mankind during the pre-industrial period could have supported a life of moderation, simplicity and economy for a much longer duration without straining the natural ecosystems. After the Industrial Revolution, however, industrial countries of the world have acquired the affluence and prosperity at the cost of environment. It is the right time now to pause and think to re-orient our priorities, change our attitudes and even modify our life styles if necessary.
The resources of the world are
definitely enough for man's needs but not for his greed. With proper
management, just and equitable distribution we can feed almost every mouth on
earth's surface. However, the irony is, the world is divided today into
nations, races, communities, the riches and the poor, the privileged (affluent)
and the deprived (poor). The later group, unfortunately, constitute a majority
in today's world who are living from hand to mouth, and struggling just for
survival. Because of poverty, they are forced to over harvest natural resources
for their subsistence, and thus over-strain the ecosystems. Issues related to
the environmental degradation are continuing to be ignored in favor of
economic considerations. It is likely to be continued as long as gross
injustices in the pattern of acquisition and distribution of natural resources
prevail. The establishment of new
economic order both at the national and international levels, which provides
for the deprived and the needy, is necessary if we are to expect positive results
from the millions of inhabitants in the
With
the 1st decade of 21st Century, environmental education
has now become a new paradigm of development thinking, which can meet the
challenges of a rapidly changing world. Environmental education has a key role
to play in motivating people to adopt environment friendly practices. It is
irrational to expect people to act in appropriate manner without awareness of
the problem, its causes, impacts on our daily life, and the long term
consequences. Many environmental and resource problems are there simply because
so many people are unaware about those. A little effort, a little care exercise
by each informed individual in the society could make a significant difference
to eliminate the entire problem. Starting from the grass-root levels,
environmental education should involve all segments of our society and should
be able to create a positive impact in environmental restoration. The prime
goal of environmental education programs is to raise public awareness about
general environmental conditions including knowledge about environmental
problems and issues resulting mostly from anthropogenic activities. It
motivates people to protect environment and conserve resources including
indigenous knowledge, culture and tradition friendly to the environment;
promote understanding and cooperation among people to face ecological
challenges. It discovers the symptoms and root cause of environmental
degradation, and aims to create consciousness based on environmental ethics
that foster understanding about the ecological inter-dependence of economic,
social and political factors.
Environmental education also makes people conscious about the environment both
scientifically and socially. It teaches mankind that the earth is not his
exclusive domain. The nature- beautiful mountain ranges, hills, oceans, rivers,
lakes, forests, soils- all are the gifts of nature and exist for all, not just
for us. Other organisms such as plants,
animals-birds, and microbes- insects have the equal right to co-exist with
human being. Although men is gifted with highest intellect among the all living
beings in this universe, there are others who's right can not be ignored or
denied as they are abide by the same rules and laws of nature. Enhanced knowledge about the environment brings attitudinal and behavioral changes, leading to community empowerment and mobilization. Changes
in values, attitudes and individual behavior towards the environment can
certainly result in a better quality of corporate life. In fact, environmental
education is evolving to be the education for life (some prefer sustainable
development). Because, it is preparing people to plan and undertake appropriate
measures for addressing most pressing challenges of our time at all levels-
from global down to local. It helps students to gain knowledge, develop skills
and analytic abilities that prepare them to solve real-world environmental
problems. It also seeks to provide facts, information, answers, opinions, or
the right mix of skills to make rational decisions and take environmentally
sound actions. It neither advocates a particular viewpoint nor admires any
definite course of action. Instead, it teaches individuals how to weight various
sides of an issue through critical thinking and enhances their own problem
solving skills through participatory decision making process. In doing so,
action is both a vehicle for and an outcome of environmental education. So, it should be in our own interest to have
a working knowledge and general understanding of the environment where we live.
The
National Environmental Education Act (1990) passed by the United States
recognizes two broad goals: (1) to improve understanding among the general public
for the natural and built environment and the relationships between humans and
their environment, including global aspects of environmental problems, and (2)
to encourage post-secondary students to pursue careers related to the
environment. Already much has been said
above concerning the first goal. With respect to the second goal, it can be
pointed out that the need for environmental educators and environmental
professionals opens up many new job opportunities in this field. Scientists are
needed to understand the natural world and the effects of human activity on the
environment. Lawyers are needed to develop government and industry policy,
laws, and regulations to protect the environment. Engineers are needed to
develop technologies and products to clean up pollution and to prevent its
production initially. Economists, geographers, and social scientists are needed
to evaluate the cost of pollution and resource depletion, and also to develop
solutions that are socially, culturally, politically and economically
appropriate for different regions of the world. Further, business will be
looking for new group of environmentally literate managers and responsible
executives/ leaders who appreciate how products sold and services rendered
affect our environment. In fact, trained people are essential in these
professions at every level, from technical to top managers. We need many more
teachers at every level who are trained in environmental education. Outdoor
activities and natural sciences are important components of this mission, but
environmental topics such as responsible consumerism, solid and toxic waste
disposal, and respect for nature should be incorporated into reading, writing,
arithmetic and every part of education. Environmental education is a continuous
life-long process. The following are some guidelines for an environmental
education program, suggested by the Minnesota Office for Environmental
Educations (1993).