National Environmental Education ESPM 4242 Brandon Berger

Overview Problem Background –Policy –Stakeholders Evaluation Criteria Data Collected Policy Alternatives

Problem A large number of Americans are completing school with a low level of environmental literacy and without a sense of responsibility for care of the environment, and this is a major barrier to improving the quality of the environment.

Background: Policy The National Environmental Education Act of 1970 (NEEA) –Established the Office of Environmental Education (OEE) under Dept. Health, Education & Welfare –Repealed in 1981 NEEA 1990 Re-established the OEE –Under the EPA

Background: Policy The Act charged the EPA with expanding the amount of environmental education opportunities to K-12 and college students in the U.S. OEE works to achieve this through many programs and grants

Background: Signals Professionals concerned about lack of Environmental Education Wide public support for legislation on the topic Earth Day –1970 –20th Anniversary, 1990

Background: Stakeholders Large National Scale School districts Schools, Colleges & Universities Communities Students Teachers

Evaluation Criteria Equity –Where, How & to Whom EE programs/courses are being offered? Effectiveness –Are increases in sustainable behavior a direct result of EE? Administrative Operability –Do State/Local offices or school districts have the authority and ability to implement programs developed by the OEE?

Policy Alternatives No Change –Affordable Update EE to focus on current problems –Communicability –Simplicity & Compatibility Local OEE –Cost –Flexibility New Office to Measure Effectiveness –Costly, but could result in money saved –Complexity

Secondary Data Collected: Case Study Impact of sustainability education on behavior Comparison of two graduate-level courses at Texas A&M University –Treatment: 22 students in a sustainable development course –Control: 28 students in a general graduate-level market analysis for development course (with no emphasis on sustainability) –Wide variety of backgrounds

Secondary Data Collected: Case Study Ecological Footprint Survey –16 Questions –Given before & after the semester Data from the surveys Provide a quantitative measure of sustainability that can be used for comparison –Food, Mobility, Shelter, Goods/Services

National Average EF: 23.5

Recommendations Focus National Environmental Education on important issues of today. –Sustainable Behavior –Familiar Topics Local –Goal Orientated

Questions?