Significance of Environmental

Science
Chapter 03
 What is Conservation of Environment?

• The environment is an evergreen subject because it matters a lot to our

daily lives. It’s where we live, eat, breathe, and bring up our children.
Our life support systems entirely rely on the well-being of every
organism living on planet earth. This is why a lot has been written and
spoken about the protection and conservation of the environment.
• Environmental science is a field that deals with the study of the
interaction between human systems and natural systems.
– Natural systems involve the earth itself and life.
– Human systems are primarily the populations of the earth.
• The growing complexity of environmental problems is creating a need
for scientists with rigorous, interdisciplinary training in environmental
science. 
• Environmental scientists and specialists use their knowledge of the
natural sciences to protect the environment and human health. They
must have a solid background in economics, sociology, and political
science.
 Significance of Environmental Science

1. To Realize That Environmental Problems are Global

– Environmental science lets you recognize that environmental problems such
as climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rains, and
impacts on biodiversity and marine life are not just national problems, but
global problems as well.
– So, intensive effort from across the world is needed to tackle these
problems.
2. To Understand the Impacts of Development on the Environment
– It’s well documented and quantified that development results in Industrial
growth, urbanization, expansion of telecommunication and transport
systems, hi-tech agriculture, and expansion of housing.
– Environmental science seeks to teach the general population about the need
for decentralization of industries to reduce congestion in urban areas.
Decentralization means many people will move out of urban centers
to reduce pollution resulting from overpopulation.
– The goal is to achieve all this sustainably without compromising the future
generation’s ability to satisfy their own needs.
Significance of Environmental Science (cont’d)
3. To Discover Sustainable Ways of Living
– Environmental science is more concerned with discovering ways to live more
sustainably. This means utilizing present resources in a manner that conserves
their supplies for the future.
– Environmental sustainability doesn’t have to outlaw living luxuriously, but it
advocates for creating awareness about the consumption of resources and
minimizing unnecessary waste.
– This includes minimizing household energy consumption, using disposals to
dispose off waste, eating locally, recycling more, growing your own food,
drinking from the tap, conserving household water, and driving your car less.
4. To Utilize Natural Resources Efficiently
– Natural resources bring a whole lot of benefits to a country. A country’s natural
resources may not be utilized efficiently because of low-level training and a lack
of management skills. Environmental science teaches us to use natural resources
 efficiently by:
• Appropriately putting into practice environmental conservation methods
• Using the right tools to explore resources
• Adding value to our resources
• Making sure machines are maintained appropriately
Significance of Environmental Science (cont’d)
5. To Shed Light on Contemporary Concepts Such as How to Conserve Biodiversity
– Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. The present rate of biodiversity loss is at an
all-time high. Environmental science aims to teach people how to reverse this trend by:
• Using sustainable wood products
• Using organic foods
• Embracing the 3R’s, reduce, reuse, and recycle
• Supporting conservation campaigns at local levels
• Conserving power
• Minimizing the consumption of meat
• Utilizing eco-friendly cleaning products
• To understand the interrelationship between organisms in population and
communities
– Organisms and humans depend on each other to get by. Environmental science is
important because it enables you to understand how these relationships work.
• For example, humans breathe out carbon dioxide, which plants need for photosynthesis.
Plants, on the other hand, produce and release oxygen to the atmosphere, which humans
need for respiration.
• Animal droppings are sources of nutrients for plants and other microorganisms. Plants are
sources of food for humans and animals. In short, organisms and humans depend on each
other for survival.
Significance of Environmental Science (cont’d)
6. To Learn and Create Awareness About Environmental Problems at Local,
National and International Levels
– Environmental problems at local, national, and international levels mostly
occur due to lack of awareness. Environmental science aims to educate and
equip learners with the necessary environmental skills to pass to the
community in order to create awareness.
– Environmental awareness can be created through social media, creating a
blog dedicated to creating awareness, community-centered green clubs,
women forums, and religious platforms.
 Objectives of Environmental Education
 Environmental Education is a learning that produces an
environmentally responsible citizenry (Hine, Hungerford &
Tomera, 1987).
 Objectives of Environmental Education
– Awareness
– Knowledge
– Attitude
– Skills
– Evaluation
– Participation
 Objectives of Environmental Education
• Awareness: To help individuals and social groups to acquire basic
awareness of and sensitivity towards the environment & its
related problem.
• Knowledge: To help individuals and social groups to acquire basic
understanding of the environment, its associated problems and
their responsible role towards the betterment of the
environment.
• Attitude: To help individuals and social groups to acquire social
values, strong feeling of concern for the environment and the
motivation for actively participating in its protection and
improvement.
• Examples of environmental objectives are: Reduce sulphur dioxide emissions from
manufacturing operations by 20% by the year 2003. Reduce the amounts of solid waste
sent to landfill by 25% in two years. Reduce energy use (e.g., electricity, oil, coal, gas) by
5% per year for the next five years.
Objectives of Environmental Education

• Skills: To help individuals and social groups to acquire the skills for
solving environmental problems.
• Evaluation ability: To help individuals and social groups to
evaluate environmental measures and education program in
terms of ecological, political, economical, social, aesthetic and
education factors.
• Participation: To help individuals and social groups to develop a
sense of responsibility and urgency regarding environmental
problems to ensure appropriate action to solve those problems.
 Target Population for Environmental Education

The three categories of audience that have been identified for

environmental education and awareness are as following:
(a) General Public:
– For the general public, environmental education should be provided at every
age class and at all levels of formal education for pupils and teachers and
informal education for young people and adult including the handicaps.
There is need for environmental education programme which introduces
awareness among the general public for its own environment and danger to
which it may be exposed. Participants in the general public education should
include the general public especially non-governmental organizations.
(b) Specific Occupational or Social Groups:
– These are those whose activities and influence have an important bearing on
the environment. These include engineers, architects, administrators and
planners, industrialists, trade unionists, policy makers and agriculturists.
(c) Certain Professional and Scientists:
– These group includes those working on specific problems of the environment
e.g. biologists, ecologists, hydrologists, taxonomists, sanitary engineers etc.