ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Environment literally means surrounding and everything that affect an organism during its lifetime is collectively known as its environment. In another words “Environment is sum total of water, air and land interrelationships among themselves and also with the human being, other living organisms and property”. It includes all the physical and biological surrounding and their interactions. Environmental studies provide an approach towards understanding the environment of our planet and the impact of human life upon the environment.

Environmental protection refers to any activity to maintain or restore the quality of environmental media through preventing the emission of pollutants or reducing the presence of polluting substances in environmental media. Environmental protection is important  due to the several reasons. Firstly, the environmental pollution is one of the main reasons why we should fight to protect environment. Besides, global warming is also another reason caused by the deforestation. Furthermore, warm climate change and flood also increase the opportunity of spread out pests and vector diseases.

 Environmental protection is influenced by three interwoven factors: environmental legislation, ethics and education. Each of these factors plays its part in influencing national-level environmental decisions and personal-level environmental values and behaviours. For environmental protection to become a reality, it is important for societies to develop each of these areas that, together, will inform and drive 

Environmental Education & Student Empowerment

 Environmental education is a multidisciplinary field, drawing from the social, physical and biological sciences. Environmental education encourages citizens to make knowledgeable and informed decisions about their environmental behaviour based on the awareness, knowledge, skills, and attitudes instilled in them .  Environmental education relies on both formal and non-formal teaching techniques to accomplish the ultimate goal of encouraging citizens to make informed and positive actions toward the environment.

 Environmental education makes use of many disciplines, techniques, and resources to accomplish its goals. The objectives of environmental education is to increase public awareness about environmental issues, as explore possible solutions, and to lay the foundations for a fully informed and active participation of individual in the protection of  environment and the prudent and rational use of  natural resources.

  Education that focuses on sustainable development and critical thought has an increased likelihood of success, and environmental education’s multidisciplinary nature makes it an ideal strategy for development. Student action skills can be developed through active participation in environment based problem solving programs incorporated directly into a school curriculum. It was found that students who participated in the program had an increased awareness towards environmental issues, as well as an increased ability to look critically at the issues investigated . School clearly demonstrates development of the major variables important for influencing both ownership and empowerment that are necessary for the responsible citizen behaviors identified as the essential aims of environmental education.

Environmental education has the potential to create feelings of ownership and empowerment by offering students direct, hands-on experiences for its participants.  Active youth participation that focuses on issues and their resolution gives first-hand experience and understanding about the environment, and develops the skills to actively study and protect it . By actively studying their environment, youth are obtaining in-depth experience and knowledge, by using skills to conserve their environment; they are developing a greater sense of empowerment.  Youth participation encourages an increased level of understanding regarding human-environment interactions and has the potential to increase a sense of stewardship for the environment.

Governments and schools can work to create an environment where skills and ideas can be developed to meet the challenges to sustainable development.  Through the use of issues-based environmental education programs, schools can meet the reform objectives by increasing student interest the sciences, social studies, writing and beyond . Youth participation in environmental education programs that focus on issues and stress the importance of the students’ involvement generate feelings of ownership and empowerment.