The three central documents are the Stockholm Declaration, the Tbilisi Declaration and the Rio Declaration. For example, environmental issues always have social and political elements, and thus can just as easily be integrated into social studies or civics classes. It is important to note the interdisciplinary nature of environmental education, and that it can be integrated into all subject areas.Įnvironmental education has its basis in various international declarations. Environmental education includes, but is not limited to, these elements. Often when people think of environmental education, they think of sciences such as biology and ecology. “Environmental Education is a process aimed at developing a world population that is aware of and concerned about the total environment and its associated problems and has the attitudes, motivation, knowledge, commitment and skills to work individually and collectively towards solutions of current problems and the prevention of new ones.” Its focus should reside mainly in the initiative of the learners and their involvement in action and guided by both the immediate and future subjects of concern.”Īccording to the Tbilisi Conference (1977): “Environmental Education should be an integral part of the educational process, aimed at practical problems of an interdisciplinary character, build a sense of values, and contribute to public well-being. “Environmental Education is aimed at producing a citizenry that is knowledgeable concerning the biophysical environment and its associated problems, aware of how to help solve these problems and motivated to work toward their solution.”Īfter this time, two more detailed definitions came forth from the Belgrade Working Conference on Environmental Education in 1975 and the Tbilisi Intergovernmental Conference on Environmental Education in 1977 (Stapp, 1997).Īccording to the Belgrade Working Conference (1975): Relevant and usable examples will also be offered.Ī basic, but nonetheless encompassing, definition of environmental education was offered some 40 years ago by William B. Rather, the focus will be the relation between environmental education, social justice and peace education. Much has been written about the theories and applications of environmental education and it is beyond the scope of this section to give a detailed account. The movement comes from the success of Rachel Carson's text, Silent Spring, fear of radiation fallout and general concern for health, both of the planet and its residents. The modern environmental education movement, which gained significant momentum in the late 1960s and early 1970s, stems from Nature Study and Conservation Education. Some of the many ways in which this relationship can be seen is in wars that are fought over increasingly scarce natural resources, and how pollution disproportionately impacts those with the fewest resources. Additionally, environmental education is part of peace education since peace education recognizes that peace cannot exist without environmental sustainability and respect for the earth. Peace Education supports a holistic appreciation for the value of life and the interdependence of living systems on the planet. Who hears the rippling of rivers will not utterly despair of anything.Įnvironmental education is based on ecological thinking and respect for all life on the planet. Pogo -character created by Walt Kelly - 1913-1975 How has the environment changed since you were a child?
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