3/10/25 - Environmental Education

Tblisi Declaration - 1977:

• UN organized an intergovernmental conference of environmental education.

  • 1. to foster clear awareness of, and concern about, economic, social, political, and ecological interdependence in urban/rural areas.

  • 2. To provide every person with opportunities to gain skills needed to protect/improve the environment.

  • 3. To create new patterns of behavior of individuals

Environmental generational amnesia:

• Environmental degradation increases with each generation.

• Each generation takes the condition of the environment in their childhood as the norm.

Nature deficit disorder:

• Children spend less time outdoors, resulting in various behavioral problems.

• Causes: parental fear, addiction to technology, real/perceived lack of access to natural places.

• Alienation from nature and its associated costs:

  • Loss of freedom

  • Loss of fantasy play

  • Diminished use of senses

  • Diminished attention spans

  • Higher rates of physical/emotional illness