Public Environmental Awareness and Education
Public Environmental Awareness and Education
Action can be taken in a variety of areas to increase environmental awareness and education. Some of these categories are: environmental legal rights and responsibilities and associated consequences, use of the media, awareness raising campaigns, incorporation of environmental issues in mainstream education, increasing awareness and education in target groups and encouragement of public participation in environmental matters. As the following case studies illustrate, many sectors of society are involved in developing and delivering educational courses and public awareness campaigns. These include Governmental institutions at the national, regional, and local levels; domestic and international NGOs; primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools; journalists and the media; celebrities; and other individuals and institutions. Moreover, educational and awareness efforts can target practically any sector of society. They can seek to raise public awareness broadly on environmental issues (e.g., through the media) or they may be a targeted campaign or educational effort focused on a specific sector (or target audience) on a specific issue. Funding for awareness and education initiatives may come from a variety of sources. Often, it comes from the budgets of specific agencies or Ministries; it is uncommon for such initiatives to receive funding directly from the central budget. Some States have accessed their national Environment Funds to provide partial funding for environmental awareness and education. Environmental education and awareness raising can include any of the following types of activities: • • • • Reorienting current education and awareness programs to include environmental dimensions; Basic education and awareness programmes (e.g., in schools); Adult and community education and awareness programmes; and Education, training, and awareness programmes for professional, technical, and vocational personnel.
Action can be taken in a variety of areas to increase environmental awareness and education. Some of these categories are: environmental legal rights and responsibilities and associated consequences, use of the media, awareness raising campaigns, incorporation of environmental issues in mainstream education, increasing awareness and education in target groups and encouragement of public participation in environmental matters. As the following case studies illustrate, many sectors of society are involved in developing and delivering educational courses and public awareness campaigns. These include Governmental institutions at the national, regional, and local levels; domestic and international NGOs; primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools; journalists and the media; celebrities; and other individuals and institutions. Moreover, educational and awareness efforts can target practically any sector of society. They can seek to raise public awareness broadly on environmental issues (e.g., through the media) or they may be a targeted campaign or educational effort focused on a specific sector (or target audience) on a specific issue. Funding for awareness and education initiatives may come from a variety of sources. Often, it comes from the budgets of specific agencies or Ministries; it is uncommon for such initiatives to receive funding directly from the central budget. Some States have accessed their national Environment Funds to provide partial funding for environmental awareness and education. Environmental education and awareness raising can include any of the following types of activities: • • • • Reorienting current education and awareness programs to include environmental dimensions; Basic education and awareness programmes (e.g., in schools); Adult and community education and awareness programmes; and Education, training, and awareness programmes for professional, technical, and vocational personnel.