Environmental Education and Awareness

Article 3:

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Environmental issues are becoming more and more important for other fields of education too. Given the negative effects of environmental degradation and pollution on people’s health, environmental questions can be dealt with in health education programs. Environmental topics can also be an important component of community education programs. Such programs can provide a frame for linking environmental issues with social and political problems of the community. Linking environmental and social issues and locating environmental problems within the context of our daily lives and action are important challenges for environmental education.

The component of environmental education, as listed by the United Nations Environmental, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) , are awareness and sensitivity to the environment and environmental challenges; knowledge and understanding of the environment and environmental challenges; attributed of concern for the environment and motivation to improve or maintain environmental quality; skills to identify and help to resolve environmental challenges; and participation in activities that lead to the resolution of environmental challenges.

Active participation from corporate sector is important to develop environmental education and awareness programs. One good example is the Toyota's donation to enhances environmental education through contribution of $1 million and three hybrid vehicles to America's most visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In support of raising environmental awareness, the donation will enhance and develop a variety of new science education initiatives for students, teachers and families to encourage careers in science and service-learning opportunities

Perhaps, environmental studies as a subject should be taught in secondary schools. For, if we as a people do not sufficiently care for our lands and waters, it will surely turn to WASTELAND. In many ways then, a pristine environment reflects in some measure the purity of our patriotism. Let us redouble our efforts by getting our environmental education and awareness programs into high gear. Then, we as a nation can become among the most environmentally literate people, maybe in the world.