Students and Environmental awareness [Tunza thematic report ( February)]by Tuvimanyu Gautam | 20-02-2024 00:33 |
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 2023 was the planet¡¯s warmest year on record. A warming planet is a sign that the human efforts to pare down their environmentally damaging activities are not enough. The frequency of extreme weather events has been increasing exponentially and creating havoc worldwide. In such a scenario it becomes important that each one of us take up the responsibility of not only practicing environment-friendly ways of living but also educate others around us about it. One important demographic segment which can bring about this awareness on a wide scale is the student population like us. Since making impressions at a young age is easier and more impactful, schools are the ideal places where care and concern for nature should be nurtured. Educating the school students about how we all live in a connected ecosystem, where every action and every choice we make has far reaching effects on the environment, could be a stepping stone to mend things in the present, and create a better future. The studies clearly indicate that in the process of learning about the environment, the students develop an awareness about their role as caretakers of the surroundings around them. Unsurprisingly, this positive shift in their attitude towards protection of environment also begins to reflect in the mindsets of their families and immediate community members. In this manner, environmental awareness seems to grow faster by the ripple effect. In my own environmental volunteering experience as a student, I found that education creates awareness and it¡¯s the involvement that creates a feeling of responsibility. Hence the incorporation of environment-related content in course curriculum is an apt step to motivate the learners to think of protecting environment. This experience can be further enhanced by providing opportunities and experiences like volunteering and clubs which make them see for themselves value of practicing that concern. Today it is not uncommon to find student environmentalists who passionately propound the cause of planet-friendly lifestyle. Activism apart, Reduce-Reuse-Recycle and Refuse mantra does not only bring down the subscription to materialism, but nudges a change in behaviour of youth towards the respectful use of resources. With a broadened knowledge of energy, conservation, and nature, the students are able to grasp environmental concepts, identify cause and effect relationships and understand the implications of their actions. Furthermore, this engaged learning enhances development of skills to address ecological issues. It motivates them to seek creative solutions to environmental issues, and this reinvigorates the future conservation efforts. This is the basis of the phenomenon of ¡®Environmental Stewardship¡¯. Through student clubs and educational campaigns, the student groups begin to understand the value of their individual and collective contributions. Making such small differences to community spurs them to make bigger differences. At this age they are ready to not only absorb and learn, but also to act decisively to bring about the desired change. Moreover, the innate sense of well-being and the restorative effect of spending time in nature is a big plus. Inspiring them seems to be the solution to solve not only the complex environmental challenges, but also as a means of ensuring purposeful, fulfilling and meaningful lives ahead for the citizens of the future. |
