Environmental education is seldom discussed in the grand scheme of efforts attempting to solve the problem of pollution in our environment. This is largely because of its "indirect approach" to a solution, and the large amount of work and networking that it takes. However, if done correctly, environmental education is quite possibly one of the most effective solutions to the rampant environmental issues we experience so frequently in our world today. That being said, what is environmental education, and what makes it so effective?
What is Environmental Education?
Environmental education, as defined by the EPA, is, "A process that allows individuals to explore environmental issues, engage in problem solving, and take action to improve the environment" (epa.gov). Essentially, it's exactly what it sounds like: teaching people about the environment. However, its purpose is not only to educate people about the environment, but to educate them in such a way that it inspires them to take action to protect and preserve it. Again, to quote the EPA, "As a result [of environmental education], individuals develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make informed and responsible decisions." By using environmental education, activists hope to inspire those who may not care about the environment to take their own action and fight for what needs to be protected.
There are multiple different components, or aspects, of environmental education that need to be utilized to make it most effective. In total, there are five things that environmental education implements into its teachings. These are:
Awareness and sensitivity- teaches people to be aware of their effect on the environment and to minimize the harmful aspects of their lives.
Knowledge and understanding- in order to protect the environment, it is best that the people protecting it know how it functions, and why exactly we have such an affect on it.
Attitudes- hopes to generate caring attitudes for the environment that are above apathy.
Skills- teaches people HOW exactly they can help the environment, and what resources they need to do so.
Participation- allows people to actually participate in ongoing efforts to preserve the environment, so they can see first hand what it is like to do so and why it is so important.
These five subjects are what help to make environmental education what it is today. Not only is it a unique form of teaching, but it is one of the most effective ways that are currently being used to help protect the environment. So, what exactly makes this method so effective?
Why is Environmental Education So Important?
First, it is important to note that environmental education is considered an indirect form of activism. This is because it doesn't help the environment directly. It helps OTHER people help the environment. While this may seem unnecessary, it is actually an extremely important aspect that has generated a large part of the awareness we have about the environment today.
Environmental education is needed mainly because of where we as a species stand on whether or not many of the issues in the environment are of real importance. While many people do consider them to be large problems, and want to help whatever way they can, many others think and want exactly the opposite. What's worse is that sometimes these people do realize that problems such as Climate Change and deforestation are important, but they are unwilling to do anything about it. There seems to be a natural apathy towards many problems occurring in our environment, and it is unclear as to the exact reason why. However, one of the largest reasons people do not want to help the environment is because they have never fully experienced it. Many have not taken the time to go out and enjoy the environment, thus they never develop the appreciation and respect that others have for it.
This is why environmental education is so crucial. The problems we have in our environment cannot be solved by a just few people. We need everyone to do their part. And the sad truth is: if not many care about the environment, than the majority will never participate in a possible solution, and we may lose the beautiful Earth we know today. Environmental education seeks to change these people's mind about the environment, and help them care more about the world around them, so together we can all reach a solution for the problems we have caused.
Does it Work?
The concept of environmental education sounds great, but it has to be more than just a good idea. So does it work? Well, speaking from personal experience, environmental education works extremely well. Just a few years ago, I myself did not care much about the environment. Sure, it was nice to look at, but there wasn't much else that really grabbed my attention. I had no clue about any of the problems going on within it, and the true importance and scale they had.
Then, about two years ago my old school implemented a few techniques of environmental education. We went on trips to various areas, learned about the problems within our environment, and got to have real, candid experiences about trying to solve some of these problems. From that point on, I was completely invested in protecting nature, and I have been that way ever since.
Why publish an article about this?
Now you may be wondering why I would write about this in the first place. Isn't it more important to learn about what we need to work on rather than what is already successful? To a certain extent this is true. However, environmental education has not been entirely successful. While the concept and tests of it have worked well, it has failed to gain popularity. Not many even know that lessons like these even exist, and because of this most of the ones that are created are unofficial. Even in heavily polluted cities, which you would think would be more focused on helping, environmental education is not taken seriously. Take, for instance, the city of Baoding in China. Baoding is the single most polluted city in China, and yet there are little to no environmental education programs within that area.
How Can We Help?
Now that you know a little bit about environmental education, and the difference that it makes, you may be wondering how you can help to make it more popular. There are a few different paths you can take: First, if you are a student, you can talk with your friends or teachers about possibly starting an environmental education course. Second, you can simply spread the word about environmental education. Many don't take part in it simply because they don't know what it is, which can be rectified if it is talked about more often. And finally, you can create your own outlet for environmental education! You can create a website, write a story, film a video, and share it with other people. Anything that we do to educate each other about the environment helps. If you would like to learn more about the steps to can take to help environmental education, you can also click here.
Conclusion
Environmental education is one of the best ways we can help save our environment in the future. Not only does it ensure that we all do our part, but it educates and inspires the young members of our community, who will ultimately have to carry on the battle against environmental issues when we are gone. If we hope to preserve the knowledge we have gained about the environment and the respect that we have developed, we must work to further implement environmental education into our schools and lifestyles. By doing so, we can create a world of people who all care about the environment, and will protect it for years to come. Thanks for reading.
All credit for information used in this post goes to:
https://www.caee.org/how-do-i-involve-community-environmental-education
https://www.epa.gov/education/what-environmental-education
https://www.neefusa.org/nature/water/benefits-environmental-education
Images:
http://bostontutoringservices.com/blog/2016/12/environmental-education-volunteering/
http://study.com/articles/Maryland_Schools_Add_Environmental_Education_to_Their_Curriculum.html
http://www.alaskapublic.org/2016/10/31/epa-fines-two-fuel-terminals-for-clean-air-violations/
http://stdaily.ghost.io/knowledge-matters/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sandra-korn/why-i-said-no-to-teach-for-america_b_4151764.html
http://www.censa.org.uk/impact-of-plywood-on-the-environment/
https://www.carbonbrief.org/deforestation-in-the-tropics-affects-climate-around-the-world-study-finds
https://environment.indiana.edu/
http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2014-04/17/content_32121025.htm
http://cceffect.org/asking-for-help/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPZUUjsu_1A
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