I think environmental consciousness can always be inculcated through education that can help imbibe it people's psyche. Very little can be achieved in this regard through sanctions and punishment. Given the danger that humanity faces due to environmental degradation, we need to agree at the global level that all countries will have this subject taught at almost all possible levels to the students in a very effective manner.

Environmental protection must be accepted as a global value; and we must impart this value in one and all so as to be fully and effectively operational.

We must also build incentives in the system for a more effective learning and teaching of the environmental issues.

Rolando

This is a very important and timely subject that need to be taught to every student at some point. One of the view that we are proposing is that the concept of environment should be taught to all students at a very early stage to understand its ramifications, tools to measure the implications, and the government laws that need to be followed. This course needs to be provided at the very early stage of the curriculum before the students can get deeper into the curriculum modules of the particular discipline. Then each of the course that the student be learning should include some component of environmental impact study. That way the students will really appreciate the impact and will be able to work towards improving it.

We have introduce an environmental component (Green ICT) in our IT Project Management module which many students take. I believe eventually, it will have to be a full module in itself just as we have full modules on communication skills, legal issues etc. We have also introduced a full programme BSc. Green Communications and Computing which is a double major in ICT and Environmental issues because the jobs purely around environmental protection are just not there yet in our region.

It would be useful to make the students (students at schools) acquainted with ENVIRONMENTALISM history, people involved, their activity and (important) the activity in their native countries, towns, organizations.

When teaching environmental ideas to younger students it is important to never strangle hope. The problems are so large and so many that I worry that teachers emphasise the problems and create a culture of despair or fear overload in young children.

Actually there are excellent tools available now about environment to practice in schools. (http://www.epa.gov/oerrpage/superfund/students/clas_act/) Many of these activities are not complex and the teacher will be able to use them in the class to not only tell them what are the harmful effects but also make them go through some of the activities through which they can improve the environment. Educating them at that level will really inculcate great sense of environmentalism in the kids.

I think environmental consciousness can always be inculcated through education that can help imbibe it people's psyche. Very little can be achieved in this regard through sanctions and punishment. Given the danger that humanity faces due to environmental degradation, we need to agree at the global level that all countries will have this subject taught at almost all possible levels to the students in a very effective manner.

Environmental protection must be accepted as a global value; and we must impart this value in one and all so as to be fully and effectively operational.

We must also build incentives in the system for a more effective learning and teaching of the environmental issues.

Home can be a kind of school (potential teaching topics: recycling; avoid throwing waste in public places; etc..)?

By the way, I do not understand why adults smoke in front of children accepting that 'smoking' also promotes air pollution reducing health.

Introducing the environmental dimension in the curriculum subjects and in the contents of school classes are very important. I totally agree with Prof. Debi "Environmental protection must be accepted as a global value" and also as a global issue.

Isn't it too late already ?I think mankind should have woken up to human rights animal rights and environmental consciousness far earlier than a couple of decades ago.Developing countries seem to be in 'survival' mode and any "green thought" might be considered as luxury.I observe that environmental concepts are only being discussed in developed world and unfortunately most of our planet is still developing and while doing so exploiting the sources relentlessly, which I think is understandable. Environmental sensitivity seem to be a stage for a country which accomplished its industrial development and now looks back and think "cleaning up" And then it might be too late.

Dear Leyla,

think positively to be even more efficient.

OK I will try :) Maybe yes, there is still something to be done. I had been teaching IELTS to some group of students who had never heard anything about environment before and culturally don't value animals. I had been trying my best to open their eyes to the consequences of ignorance in that matter. I hope they will remember the lessons when they're back in their not so sensitive countries :(

It is very important to introduce the environmental education, in particular the ‘Climate Change’ (as a subject) at all levels in schools. It is important to note that Climate change will impact all, including developing and developed countries (Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America, Polar regions Island nations), poor and rich, all cultures, and all people with belief in different religions). Climate change will impact future food security, water security and health security, ecosystems and biodiversity, assets and infrastructure etc. Therefore young generation should be provided with new knowledge and information and challenges they will face in the near future due to climate change!

Dear Debi, Mark,Nageswara, Marcel, Aieman, Leyla, Shafig, and Golam, thank you very much for the important contributions!!.

Certainly, introduce the environment from a very early age and also teach the weather part of geography. How else will they make sense when most people around them talk about climate change?