Environmental Education

This chapter briefly discusses the history of environmental education before reviewing research topics, methodologies, and methods. It also looks at some criticisms of environmental education and at future directions for research. Environmental education works to move people to action for the tangible benefit of the environment and humanity. To realize the benefits, people must connect experientially with the environment, learn needed skills, and understand the complicated social and cultural connections between humanity and the natural environment. The socio-scientific issues framework can accommodate environmental education from local place-based to broader global scales, and presumes that: environmental issues are inherently complex; understanding the science underpinning these issues is necessary; and educating learners toward responsible citizenry and sustainable environmental engagement requires development of conscience. As with much environmental education, climate change education often focuses on increasing awareness and on taking action. Actions might range from monitoring whether classroom lights are turned off when the rooms are empty to organizing community events.