Environmental Education

With the global warming and climate change debate at the forefront of public and political concern as of late, it comes as no surprise that the need for environmental education is greater than ever in an effort to reduce, reverse or lessen the harmful effects of technology on the global environment.  Although debate amongst politicians and party lines continues to surround the issue of global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer, most leading world scientists agree that man’s actions are indeed having an adverse effect on the environment as the earth’s temperature continues to rise.

In the context of global warming, most environmental education includes ways that each person can reduce their negative impact, or “carbon footprint”. Ways to reduce this carbon footprint includes driving a fuel efficient vehicle, recycling, conserving energy and supporting clean air legislation.  Additionally, environmental education may also illustrate various alternative renewable energy sources such as solar power, ethanol fuel and harnessing wind technology for power.  By exploring alternative energy sources, the global community can begin to lessen its collective carbon footprint upon the earth and reverse the negative effects of global warming on future generations. 

Environmental education, however, can also take the form of a specialized undergraduate or graduate degree for those wanting to pursue a career in environmental science.  One such career which requires environmental education courses is forest ranger or conservation officer. These specially trained individuals have many job capacities such as patrolling state and national parks for misuse or desecration by the public, operating locks on rivers and lakes and forging trails as well as marking them with the appropriate trail markers for public use in addition to many other responsibilities.  Depending on the level of environmental education completed and certifications received, some conservation officers actually have some of the same powers as police officers and can issue tickets or perform arrests.

Environmental education can lead to many different career paths as well as educating people on their individual effects as citizens of the earth.