Environmental Public Education and Awareness

Introduction Environmental education and awareness is increasingly being promoted as a tool in managing our environment. In the 20 th century serious environmental concerns like pollution, climate change, biodiversity, etc have triggered great concern about the relationship between humanity and the environment In 1978 UNESCO Tbilisi Declaration, mentioned the need for environmental education. This Declaration Convention defined environmental education as “ a process of developing a world population that is aware of and concerned about the total environment and its associated problems, and which has the knowledge, skills, attitudes, motivation and commitment to work individually and collectively towards solution of current problems and the prevention of new ones”.

Introduction (Continues) Education - any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense education is the process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one generation to another. mindcharacterknowledgeskillsvalues –Formal education ( degree purpose) –Informal education ( enhancement of skills and knowledge for non degree purposes) Outreach - the provision of information or services to groups in society who might otherwise be neglected, i.e.an outreach program for people who cannot read Awareness: First stage in the process of learning about a new product, service

Introduction (Continues) The need to continuously heighten awareness and educate the general public on environmental issues and also promote actions that seek to minimise damage on the environment is vital. Education, which includes formal education & informal programmes, should be recognised as a process by which human beings and societies can reach their fullest potential. Educations and awareness is critical for achieving environmental and ethical awareness, values and attitudes, skills and behaviour consistent with sustainable development and effective empowerment of the general public in decision making.

Understanding the Context Government work is a public activity. Government has a constitutional obligation to inform the public. Position DEA as offering Though Leadership Development communications demands active citizen involvement in government programs – Development is about people Active engagement with citizenship ensures empowerment. An informed citizenry is a powerful citizenry

Media Profile SA has over 561 magazines read by just over 12 million people Over 15 million South Africans read newspapers, with over 29 million of them listening to the radio SABC is the biggest media house in the country with 15 PBS radio stations and 3 PCBS. We have over 123 community radio stations. Over 26 million South Africans watch TV Vuk’uzenzele has a print order of 1,6 million copies which are circulated in all the nine provinces

Strategic Objectives for Education & Awareness Create and build a Human Resource capital for the environment sector To inform the public and stakeholders about the unique South African environment and its importance To foster behavioural change and stimulate environmental activism Educating the public about the policies and programmes of the department

What is being Done There are a number of Education, Awareness and related initiatives within the Department, its entities & Indalo Yethu. Winning Formula efforts include inter alia: Sector Education, Training and Development –Environmental Sector Skills Plan –Environment Careers Guidance for Schools –Eco-Schools Programme –Capacity Building for Educators ; Biodiversity for Teachers –National Greening Programme –Women and Environment Forum & related events –Local Government IDP toolkits development & training –Clean Fires Campaign (Basa Njengo Magogo) –Participate annually in various scientific exhibitions attended by educators and learners. –Kids and Parks: Partnership between DEA, DoE and SANParks.

What is being Done People and Parks: WSSD in 2002 and the World Parks Congress in 2003 which were hosted by SA resolved that local people should be at the forefront of biodiversity conservation as they depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. South Africa’s success in achieving sustainable protection of biodiversity hotspots, species and ecosystems will largely depend on the extent to which we involve local people whose livelihoods depend on these resources.

What is being Done Indalo Yethu –Climate Change Awareness: Demystify Climate Change, refinement of carbon calculator adapted for community use, climate change kits for schools –Demonstrate a link between Climate Change & development –Green Ambassadors 2010: Build a pool eco-activists among the youth –Eco-Towns: Create eco conscious communities: assist municipalities capacity. Reduce landfill volumes

Education and Awareness – What we need to do To introduce & enhance formal and informal Environmental Education and training programmes at schools & institutions of higher learning To encourage an integrated approach to environment education that embraces multidisciplinary approach (environment and development issues) To promote non-formal education and awareness activities at local communities’ level to foster partnerships. Municipalities and NGOs To strengthen the role of the media as agents for the dissemination of messages To empower communities to take ownership

How do we move Forward? Sector Education, Training and Development’s work must be located in the formal curriculum development, environment sector specific interventions in education and capacity building (learner ships and teacher development), to name a few. Technical oversight on the environmental education curriculum Public Education and Awareness is about behavioral change and creating a society that is empowered with information –Information Age. Coordination and alignment with provinces and local government on priority campaigns –Waste management- anti litter –Basa nje ngo magogo- clean fires –Climate change –Biodiversity loss/Greening

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