Importance of Environmental Education

Environmental education deals with the need to protect the environment because global warming, pollution, and many other issues are ruining our environment badly. We know the importance of a healthy environment, and we should take all the possible measures to keep our environment healthy. One of the most effective means to promote healthy environment is giving proper education to both new as well as old generations. Environmental education and protection are crucial for the benefit of both the environment and humans, its importance cannot be overemphasised.

Education has the power to modify the society and present better knowledge to its populace. Education can stand as a proper solution to solve different sorts of problems exist in a community and, therefore, education has a prominent role to play to save the environment. The following tips will help you to understand the importance education system plays in protecting our environment:

Also read our detailed article on : What is meant by Environmental Education?

Role of Awareness in society

The primary purpose of education when it comes to environmental protection is offering awareness to everyone in a society. Education can provide better awareness of a variety of ecological issues that take place day by day. Everyone in society including kids, youths, adults and mature people can understand and become aware of the various environmental issues if they get proper education on it. Education can give right knowledge on how natural environment functions, and how human beings can deal with behaviour and ecosystems for sustainability. In the present day, a lot of people conduct an environmental awareness program in schools and societies. It will help people to become aware of environmental issues and take actions accordingly.

Knowledge on How to Protect the Environment

The education system can play a huge role in saving the earth by imparting knowledge on how to protect the environment to people in diverse communities. Saving environment is a practice of looking after the natural environment on individual, organizational or societal levels for the gains of both the environment and humans. It aids to resolve main problems like acid rain, ozone depletion, climate changes, global warming, etc. Environmental education can be started right from school and can be provided by the use of audio-visual programs, seminars, training programs, awareness campaign, etc.

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Knowledgeable Society

There are a lot of environmental issues around the globe. Air pollution, water pollution, unexpected climate change, garbage, and pollution of the natural environment are some of the challenges faced by many other countries in the world. Education plays a massive role in building up a society that is knowledgeable towards the environment and its associated problems. Environmental education teaches individuals and communities to know about the environment and its related issues, become aware of the solutions to the environmental issues, motivate the people to solve the problems and take proper actions to save the environment from potential issues.

Solve Complex Issues

Environmental education can help to solve complex issues that are present in a society.  Environmental problems are one of the leading causes of many diseases, health issues and long-term livelihood problems in India. So, incorporating education in schools and conducting an environmental awareness campaign in communities can bring people together, discuss the issues, engage with different sorts of people, make practical judgments about various environmental issues and respond to the problems effectively. It will guide people to think seriously, deeply, and productively.

Promote a Holistic Approach

Education on saving the environment or effective environmental protection programs promote a holistic and lead by example approach among people. It allows people to make certain sustainable and fair use of resources devoid of damaging the environment. Effective programs conducted in schools or any other places encourage kids and parents to have discussion at their home. Environmental education strategies include training individuals to prosper in a sustainable society. Education helps people to establish a strong bond with nature. Nature appreciation and awareness education or programs promote an ecologically sustainable future.

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Enhance Appreciation of Environment

Education indeed enhances appreciation of the environment amid people. Enhancing the appreciation of the environment among citizens can give rise to overall positive environmental, behavioural change. Air pollution, poor managing of waste, rising water shortage, declining groundwater tables, water pollution, low conservation and quality of forests, biodiversity loss, and land & soil degradation are a few of the main environmental issues faced by the global world. So, education on environmental issues is essential today since it lets people build up skills, foster a dedication to take steps individually and communally to maintain and enhance the environment.

Making a real investment in environmental education is very important since we live in an epoch where more and more people are disconnected from nature and unaware of critical issues. Education is a tool for self-empowerment because it enables us to take serious and effective action. It leads people to be future conservation leaders and encourage them to take serious and effective action towards critical issues of the day.

Direct & Indirect results of saving environment by education

Environment is understood in different manner by people. Their understanding differs based on their experiences, education level, how much awareness exist in the society etc. People tend to pay more attention to issues which have direct impact on them or whose results are quick to see. However, environmental impacts are not such. They have far long term and lasting effects. In such a case when the issues grow, the importance of saving environment is realized and stress is given on incorporating it by means of education. The direct impact which which people face include the changes in climate cycles, extreme climate and temperature, crop failure, draughts. These are the problems faced by people collectively. Individuals might experience these in different manner and to different extent. Change in climate might increase the electricity consumption for individuals, extreme weather increases the tendency to fall ill and have health implications.

The qualitative & quantitative analysis in Environmental Education

Environmental education at school level includes basics and avoids much of the quantitative aspect. Stats and facts are very limited which are just enough to provide a student with some stats which can be compared. At a higher level especially when studying the subject in detail stats and figures cannot be neglected. Numbers act as the basis for comparison in the improvement of deterioration of the condition. Although qualitative data is easy to find the results and decisions can be made with the help of figures. NGOs, educational institutions, Govt. and concerned agencies require data to reach any conclusion. Based on the findings policies to tackle the issues such as air pollution, the decrease in green areas/cover, quality of water, depletion of groundwater, etc. are made. It is essential to provide a clear picture as the conditions can be easily manipulated by the agency preparing a report. All the assumptions, study area, and survey methodology need to be analyzed to get the correct and meaningful results. Figures also make it