Human beings have always interacted and modified the environment, that is, that environmental problems are not a new phenomenon. Although there have always been environmental problems, the worrying thing is that in recent times, they have accelerated and massified. With the idea of raising awareness among these environmental problems, their causes, consequences and solutions, environmental education emerged and has become vital for the future of the planet.
In this ecology article, we talk about What is environmental education: concept and objectives.
The environmental crisis
Currently, environmental problems do not develop independently from each other but are phenomena that interact with each other to give rise to a different environmental reality than that would cause these isolated phenomena. For example, the population increase is an environmental problem and is linked to the rest of the problems related to environmental pollution, because the more humans there are on the planet seems to be more polluted.
Therefore, more than environmental problems, we can talk about a environmental crisis that has global effects. It is in this crisis that we must find innovative solutions, that reinvent our way of understanding and interacting with the environment.
However, these innovative solutions should not only be technological, but also question some of the values of today’s society, since they are the basis of the environmental crisis. In this way, Environmental education has an important role When promoting learning and participation in what we seek to understand.
Consult this other article on what is the importance of environmental education to better learn this issue.
What is environmental education
The relationships between Education and Environment They are not a new thing, its novelty is that the environment becomes the educational environment, content or didactic resource, but also in its main purpose and objective. In this way, although its origins are ancient, environmental education how we understand it today is a concept that arises from The end of the seventies.
In addition, environmental education enjoys a certain institutional recognition. Internationally, for example, is the United Nations Organization Through organisms such as UNESCO and UNEP, which promotes environmental education programs and studies. Outside the international arena, it is the entities, non -governmental or educators organizations that can promote environmental education programs.
Thus, Environmental education serves to teach the values and importance of environmental carethe problems that are currently and the possible solutions and how to apply them. For example, for the little ones it focuses not only on theoretical classes, but above all with environmental education activities for young people, since they can better understand all this and in the future even have their own ideas to prevent and solve these problems.
Functions and objectives of environmental education
One of the primary objectives of environmental education is to ensure that both individuals and groups understand the complexity of the environment (resulting from the interactions of different aspects: biological, physical, social, economic, cultural, etc.) and obtain the knowledge, values and practical skills that allow them to participate in the prevention and solution of some of the current environmental problems.
Environmental education, therefore, should not be limited to a theoretical aspect of the educational process, but should Make members of society actively participateto the extent of their possibilities. Between The objectives of environmental education are:
- Create awareness: Provide the appropriate tools for people and social groups to acquire greater sensitivity and awareness about the environment and their specific problems.
- Create knowledge: Help people understand the environment, their processes, the problems they face and the role of humanity in them.
- Foster attitudes: Promote in people the learning of social values and an interest in the environment that promotes them to participate in their protection and improvement.
- Foster skills: Encourage people to acquire the necessary skills to solve environmental problems.
- Ability to evaluate: Get people to be able to evaluate environmental education programs and propose improvements.
- Stake: Promote in people the desire to actively participate in environmental protection.
Education and Environmental Management
In order for this education to be really effective, it must be linked to the legislation, policies, decisions and control measures that governments approve in relation to the environment. This requires the inclusion of Environmental Education Programs in planning and general policies. Sometimes, attractive programs are launched and with good staging, but that do not participate too much in the management that is carried out. Therefore, Environmental education must be integrated with environmental management and not be used as a measure to justify management deficiencies.
The current need for a transition made sustainability It requires deep economic, social, political, technological and educational changes.
In this other article you can learn more about what environmental management is.
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