The failure of environmental education (and how we can fix it)
2007
The Failure of Environmental Education (and How We Can Fix It)
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Daniel T. Blumstein, Charlie Saylan
Primary Institution: University of California, Los Angeles
Hypothesis
Environmental education is not successful in creating an ecologically literate and environmentally sensitive populace.
Conclusion
The study suggests that an evidence-based approach can improve environmental education and create more environmentally aware citizens.
Supporting Evidence
- Environmental education has failed to link individual actions to environmental conditions.
- Only about 20% of the public is considered scientifically literate.
- Deforestation in the Amazon has continued despite educational efforts.
- Recycling efforts have not been proven to be effective in a sustainable way.
- Environmental education must focus on changing consumption patterns.
Takeaway
The way we teach about the environment isn't working, and we need to change how we educate people to help them understand and care for the planet better.
Limitations
The authors note a lack of proper evaluation methods for environmental education effectiveness.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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