Pollution Essay: The Importance Of Environmental Education

A weak emphasis on environmental education (EE) has taken a toll on the global perspective of pollution; worldwide, the majority of people view pollution through a lens of misconceptions and perceive the problem with minimal gravity. Pollution is a never-ending cycle of destruction yet is continuously set as a triviality. Whether it be the lack of potable water or an overall increase in mortality rates due to toxic chemicals, pollution has not only affected the environment but holds a persistent threat to life. “1.1 billion people lack access to water and 2.4 billion don’t have adequate sanitation, putting them at risk of contracting deadly diseases”(“Tackling Threats”). Pollution nonetheless constitutes other pressing matters such as climate change, weather deficiencies,

“About 80% of Americans are heavily influenced by incorrect or outdated environmental myths” (“Understanding Environmental Literacy”). Global environmental education inefficiently establishes an understanding of the dangers of pollution due to the lack of environmental literacy, thus leading to the creation of long term educational efforts as means to initiate environmental improvements from the ground up.

Environmental Education:
Feeble levels of environmental literacy today withhold deficiencies in methods of teaching, causing lack of expertise and effort among developing generations. “for the first time since the mid-1970s, there is a decline in organized environmental education occurring in schools as well as nature centers, parks, and wildlife areas” (“Understanding Environmental Literacy”). Students are being educated solely by in-class activities and tests. Rather than being able to interact with the environment, current education systems tend to avert their attention to rudimentary information. As expressed by the NEETF, a