KANCHIOLI ISSN : 2583-0740 (online)

( Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences )

Volume- III, Issue – 1, JUNE-2023

Environmental Education and Public Awareness

1
Author Banti Dutta

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

RECEIVED 30 MAY 2023 Environmental sensitivity in our country can only grow through a
ACCEPTED 24 SEPTEMBER 2023 major public awareness campaign. The tremendous signification
PUBLISHED 4 DECEMBER 2023 of the message of environmental education for the survival of
man has made the relatively new academic discipline to attract
great attention. Lack of adequate environmental knowledge is an obstacle in achieving a
sustainable future for humankind at both global and local levels. Environmental awareness
programme can help reduce the impacts of human activities on the environment.
Environmental education has an effective role in creating healthy awareness and preparing
suitable environment for the development and maintenance of human minds. It includes both
formal and informal education and training that increase human capacity and capability to
participate in environmental management and in solving environmental crisis and challenges.
This could be achieved by increasing awareness and effectively changing the individual outlook
on the environment. Educating adult, community, traditional and religious leaders on the
importance of environmental health and on the well use of the natural environment is also very
critical to sustainable development. This paper is an attempt to review the meaning of
environmental education, its aims and objectives, and ways of promoting environmental
awareness in the society. It also considered how environmental education can be implemented
in many contexts. The paper concluded with recommendations of ways of sensitizing the public
on the need to be environmental conscious.

Keywords:
Education, Environment, Awareness

1
Corresponding Author : Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Laluk College, Assam
Email – [email protected]

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 KANCHIOLI ISSN : 2583-0740 (online)
( Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences )
Volume- III, Issue – 1, JUNE-2023

INTRODUCTION

Environment is a physical, chemical and biological setting in which people live. It is a

sum total of water, air, and land, interrelationship among themselves and also with
human beings, other living organism and property. The most terrible problem in the
21st century is rapid degradation of environmental quality. The rapid growth of
population creates situations like more people need more food, more energy, and
more things of daily use. So we use more water resources, fertilizers, pesticide etc. for
more production and it turns it increase the level of pollution of air, water and soil
which creates the ecological imbalanced in the ecosystem. Lack of environmental
awareness in the preservation and conservation of environment effectively made the
situation more critical. All these are responsible for rapid degradation of environmental
quality. If such situation would be continued in the near future, the whole human
civilization will face very dangerous situation in various spheres. In this context, the only
alternative is to create Environmental awareness among the masses in respect of
protection and preservation of environment and also for the alleviation of
environmental degeneration. Therefore, it is essential to provide environmental
education to the public to raise awareness about environmental issues.

Environmental Education

Environmental Education (EE) is a learning process by which people develop awareness,

concern knowledge of the environment and learn to use this understanding to
preserve, conserve and utilize the environment in a sustainable manner for the benefit
of present and future generation. It focused on the protection and improvement of our
total environment, developing and conserving those components traditionally
recognized as natural resources like soil, water, air, forest etc, making the population

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 KANCHIOLI ISSN : 2583-0740 (online)
( Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences )
Volume- III, Issue – 1, JUNE-2023

aware of problems, skilled and willing to participate in environmental management.

Environmental Education helps to improve the “quality of the environment”. It is also
improve the quality of life of man.

Environmental Education is not a separate branch of science or subject but it has been
formulated into a definite discipline with clearly defined content area and it should be
carried out according to the principle of lifelong education. Environmental education
includes both formal and informal education and training that increase human capacity
and capability to participate in environmental awareness programmed. This could be
achieved by increasing awareness and effectively changing the individual outlook on
the environment.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This paper discusses the goal, objectives, importance of environmental education and
includes a descriptive study on how environmental education can raise public
awareness and how environmental awareness can contribute to a healthy environment
has been taken.

IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY

This is worth mentioning that Earth is the most precious gift of the universe. It is the
sustenance of nature that is the key to the development of the future of mankind. It is
the duty and responsibility to each one of us to protect nature. It is here that the
understanding of the “Environment” comes in to the picture. The degradation of our
environment is linked with the development process and the ignorance of people
about retaining the ecological balance. Indeed, no citizen of the earth can afford to
remain aloof from the issue related to the environment. It is therefore essentially
important that the study of the environment becomes an integral part of the education
process. Because Environmental education increase the public awareness and

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 KANCHIOLI ISSN : 2583-0740 (online)
( Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences )
Volume- III, Issue – 1, JUNE-2023

knowledge about environmental issues or problems. It will help to keep our

environment healthy and strong. And for that a thorough study or research is much
needed.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The primary goals of this study are to review the status of Environmental Education and
to sensitize the public on the need to be conscious about their environment and to
suggest ways by which the public could be educated about the environment. The main
objectives are –
1) Review briefly the goals of Environmental Education.
2) Sensitize the public on the need to develop positive attitude towards a better
interaction with the natural world.
3) Suggest ways of educating the public on the need to be environmental
conscious.

METHODOLOGY

The study is basically concerned with the Environmental education and Public
awareness. The method used for study in descriptive in nature. Secondary data have
been used for the purpose of the study which were collected from the published
sources like books, journals, magazines, newspaper etc. whatever information is
collected is simply arranged and described.

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 KANCHIOLI ISSN : 2583-0740 (online)
( Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences )
Volume- III, Issue – 1, JUNE-2023

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Environmental education has to develop a sense of responsibility amongst the nature
of the world to take collective actions towards the conservation and preservation of the
natural world. It encourages the individuals to learn about nature and develop skills to
protect it. The main goal is to develop concern and awareness among world
population about the total environment and its associated problems.

The main aims and objectives of environmental educations are -

1) To improve the quality of environment.
2) To create awareness among the people on environmental problems and
conservations.
3) To create an atmosphere so that people participate in decision making and
develop the capabilities to evaluate the developmental programme.
4) To develop the attitude to take steps for environmental protection. There should
be a sense of responsibility among the population to protect the environment.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND ITS NEED

Environmental education is a process of educating the people about the natural

environment and its problems; way of understanding environment. It is concerned with
the dynamic relationship between man and nature. Environmental Education is nothing
but teaching a person how to interact fully with surrounding world so that to improve
his own inner world, to understand and appreciate the inter-relationship between man
and his biophysical surrounding. It is a life-long forwarded looking education and it
means the generation of widespread awareness of environmental problem. Life on
Earth depends upon the availability of land, water, air, energy, minerals, climate, flora
and fauna. We with the help of our own efforts and technology transform these
resources in to goods and services to raise the students of living. The word
environment includes all parts of nature require for health and happiness of man. The
very existence of life on Earth depends on nature. Hence, it is the urgent need to the
hour to take measures for the protection of environment, since the problems of

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 KANCHIOLI ISSN : 2583-0740 (online)
( Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences )
Volume- III, Issue – 1, JUNE-2023

environmental pollution and ecological degradation is threatening the survival of

mankind. Protection of environment is a fundamental duty of every Indian. Awareness,
knowledge and understanding about environmental problems and its protection is very
much relevant, indispensable and of great significance for each and every citizens in
present society. Due to tackle the problem of environmental hazards effectively, the
Government of India has passed several Acts for the protection of environment. The
most important ones are –

 Wild life protection Acts, 1972-1986.

 Water (prevention and control of pollution)Acts, 1974.

 Water pollution less Act, 1980.

 Forest (conservation) Act, 1980

 Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981

 The Environment (protection) Act, 1986.

 Biological Diversity Act, 2002

In spite of all these efforts of the Government of India to take measure for protecting
and improving the quality of the environment and preventing and controlling. Actually,
no summit, no government effort, no organization can success in reducing Greenhouse
effect, in protecting biological diversity, in reducing ozone layer depletion and so on
until people sensitize it personally. Environmental protection is the prime need of our
times. In this context, Environmental awareness movement is very essential. But lack of
sufficient knowledge about the fundamentals to control various kinds of pollution has
become a very serious problem. Hence it is in the time to march forward in spreading
Environmental Education amongst all the section of the people.

IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Public awareness and knowledge of environmental protection are crucial to avoid

environmental pollutions. If we have to improve the environment, public awareness is

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 KANCHIOLI ISSN : 2583-0740 (online)
( Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences )
Volume- III, Issue – 1, JUNE-2023

the primary requirement. Human activities are causing many kinds of environmental
pollutions for which public awareness is necessary. Everyone needs to make aware and
motivate each and every individual for environmental consciousness. There must be
planning about the effects and control measures of environmental pollution.
Government should initiate and help by awareness campaigns to save environment.
There are a number of ways in which we can spread awareness and educate the public
how to protect the environment.

 Running awareness campaigns

 Providing environmental education in school level.

 Regulating environmental legal rights and responsibilities

 Spreading awareness via (through) the media

 Encouraging public participation

Today, these initiatives are being undertaken by the government, the media, as well as
by schools at a considerable level. This is particularly important because as citizens,
most of the environmental issues arise out of our way of living. Population explosion,
industrialization and urbanization are some of the primary reasons for environmental
degradation. Awareness in all sections of the society can be spread through various
general public awareness programmes. Only with collective thinking we will be able to
restore balance in our environment.

The government plays an important role in creating public awareness. The

„Environmental Education, Awareness and Training‟ programme of the Government of
India aims at developing public knowledge and skills to protect the environment. As
part of the programme, during the year 2007-2008, 83372 eco-clubs were created in
India. Between 2007 and 2008, 9938 associations were included in the awareness
programme and financial assistance was provided. National TV and radio were used as
a means of spreading awareness.

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 KANCHIOLI ISSN : 2583-0740 (online)
( Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences )
Volume- III, Issue – 1, JUNE-2023

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Government should organize Environmental Education campaign programmes

for children, youth, men and women. The state government should establish
appropriate funding mechanisms for raising public awareness of environmental
education.

2. Government officials can make significant contributions to improve public

awareness of environmental education.

3. NGOs (at national and community levels) should initiate and help by awareness
campaigns to save environment.

4. Ban the littering of polythene cannot be successful until the public understands
the environmental implications of the same.

5. Proper methods of disposal and its treatment should be applied otherwise they
can be the causes of chronic diseases.

By exercising following actions, humans can protect global environment for sustainable
development: these are -

i. Preserve forest cover: Humans should minimize cutting of trees and using timber for
aesthetic pleasure such as decoration of drawing rooms.

ii. Preserve natural resources: Human should not extract unnecessarily and exhaustively
the natural resources such as mineral resources, water resources, etc.

iii. Conserve energy: Human should not harness too much energy from burning of
fossil fuels.

iv. Practice green technology: Everyone from a farmer in the village to a policy planner
in the government should use green technology that incorporates: treatment of air
emissions, treatment of waste waters, waste reduction, waste or emission management,
use of non-conventional, renewable energy resources like solar energy on priority, etc.

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 KANCHIOLI ISSN : 2583-0740 (online)
( Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences )
Volume- III, Issue – 1, JUNE-2023

CONCLUSION

There is an urgent need to safeguard our environment to save the future generation.
Environmental awareness is the suitable tool for conservation of our natural resources
and their valuable components. Environmentally illiterate individuals cannot successfully
solve complex problems. It requires understanding the immediate and real needs of a
country like ours by initiating a local process through Environmental Education
programme. Environmental training programme can also promote better health and
hygienic conditions. The awareness programmes would empower the people to take
up appropriate steps to preserve and protect our environment. Environmental
education and environmental awareness programme are to be conducted from
primary to university level of education are the better channels to which information
can be disseminated to the grassroots level and these programmes would enable the
masses to protect the environment which is very urgent for us to survive on Earth.

REFERENCES
1. Bhaskar, A, Yerroju (2011). Education and Society. Discovery Publishing house, New
Delhi.

2. Ahluwalia, S.P. and Bais, H.S. (1992). Environmental education. Ashish publishing house,
New Delhi.

3. Buragohain, P.P et al. (2017). Paribesh Adhyayan, Banalata, Dibrugarh.

4. Nath, Bhaskar (2009). Environmental education and Awareness. Vol.1. Encyclopedia of

Life Support System.

5. Goswami, M. (2016). Environmental education and Awareness.

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