Objectives, Need and Importance of Environmental Education

 

Objectives, Need and Importance of Environmental Education 

 

In order to develop an attitude of awareness and participation in the protection of the environment among the people, the subject of environmental education has been compulsorily included at various levels of education. 

UNESCO has also emphasized the necessity of environmental education at school education and higher education level. 

In this sub-unit you will assess the purpose, need and importance of environmental education

Objectives of Environmental Education

 

Following are the objectives of environmental education-

1. Creating awareness and sensitivity towards environmental problems 

2. To develop a critical understanding of environmental problems

3. Motivating people to improve the quality of the environment.

4. To motivate and develop leadership ability to participate in various activities to solve environmental challenges.

 

5. To develop necessary knowledge, skills and values ​​for solving environmental problems. 

6. To develop the ability to take informed and responsible decisions to solve environmental problems.

According to UNESCO (1971), the following are the objectives of environmental education:

1. To make people aware of environmental problems.

2. To provide basic knowledge related to environment and its related problems

 

3. To develop a positive attitude towards the environment.

4. Motivating people to participate in the protection and development of the environment. 

5. To develop necessary skills to identify and solve environmental problems.

6. To establish harmony with nature. Environmental education is a subject in which we examine in depth the main environmental issues that affect our lives in a significant way.

 

Exploitation and uncontrolled use of environmental resources has created many problems in front of mankind – such as pollution, global warming, soil erosion, decrease in diversity of organisms, etc. 

To solve these problems, there is a need to develop a critical understanding of the cause and effect of these problems among the people. 

For this they need to be aware of the interaction of biotic and abiotic elements of the environment. It is to know how and in which direction human activities affect the environment. 

 

At the same time, to deal with these problems, they have to be introduced to the policies, measures and programs prevailing at the regional, national and international level. 

Therefore, environmental education, which includes the above mentioned elements, needs to be included in different levels of education.

Today where on one hand science and technology and industry is at its peak development,

 

On the other hand, the exploitation of natural resources as a result of this development is rapidly reducing life on earth. 

Many such environmental problems have arisen which are questioning the existence of mankind and other living beings. 

If these problems are not controlled, it can be fatal for humans and other living beings. 

Therefore, it is the need of the hour that people understand the implications of the interdependence of man and environment, study the deteriorating relationship between ecological destruction and the human condition, and become conscientious about the protection and conservation of the environment. 

This will prove useful for the development of both the environment and the corporate and technical world.

 

Many environmentalists believe that if the current environmental problems like pollution, soil erosion, flood, drought continue like this, then our ecosystem can be badly destroyed on which all our lives depend. 

Therefore, there is a need for people to bring changes in their habits and lifestyles so that ecological disaster can be cured. 

Environmental education develops such skills and values ​​in people, which makes them understand these problems and strive to overcome them.

 

Today people need to know that nature's resources are made for our consumption but our life also depends on the availability of these resources. 

If the rate of reconstruction of resources becomes much less than the rate of our consumption, then a question mark will be raised on our very existence.

 

Environmental education introduces people to all the possibilities by which we can use these resources at a reasonable rate and in a proper way so that the availability of resources remains for our future generations and harmony is maintained between nature and human activities.

Environmental management is developing as an important option for environmental protection. 

It tells how and to what extent the natural resources and products of the ecosystem should be used and what alternative measures should be taken so that the environment is protected and our economic and technological development is also not hindered. 

It strengthens the interaction mechanism of government and non-government organizations and agencies for environmental protection.

 

And also informs about the environmental consequences of their actions, habits and behaviours. 

It also outlines proposed and future projects, campaigns and other measures going on at the regional, national and international levels to deal with environmental problems. 

In such a scenario, the subject of environmental management is being included in the curriculum of environmental education. 

It represents and promotes the principles of management for the conservation of environmental resources. 

 

If the protection of the environment is to be ensured, it is essential that environmental education is imparted to all. 

Generally, we believe that the responsibility of environmental protection is only of the government, but environmental protection is not possible until all of us, students, teachers, environmentalists, economists, politicians, businessmen and others, Don't forget to do your part in fulfilling this responsibility because the environment belongs to all of us. It can be affected by the ignorance of any one group.

 

Everyone can be made aware and sensitive towards the environment through environmental education. 

They have been directed to protect the environment by various agencies such as mass communication, BSI (Botanical Survey of India, 1890), ZSI (Zoological Survey of India, 1916), WII (Wild Life Institute of India, 1982); The role of various government and non-government organizations and acts are also explained. 

At the same time, they are also introduced to the standards that are safe, clean and healthy for the interaction of man and his ecosystem. 

 

Thus, the need and importance of environmental education can be considered under the following discussions-

Need and Importance of Environmental Education

1. Proper use of natural resources and considering their alternative methods.

2. Emphasis on conservation of wild life and natural resources.

 

3. To study the behavior of living organisms under natural conditions

4. Adopt a more sustainable lifestyle

5. To study the interaction between human activities and environment. 

 

6. To make people aware of environmental hazards and to make them familiar with ongoing programs for environmental protection at regional, national and international level.

7. To establish harmony between economic and technological development and environmental protection.

Role of the teachers in the development of environmental awareness