Environmental Education in India – The Shifting Paradigm

Abstract

Environmental Education (EE) has grown so vast, embracing so many concepts, ideas and practices, since its emergence during the UN conference on “Human Environment” in Stockholm (1972), that it is difficult to define its boundaries. “Environmental issues will remain a serious concern in India”… “For the future growth to be rapid and sustainable, it needs to be as resource-efficient and environmentally benign as possible” states India’s Vision 2020 (http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/pl_vsn2020.pdf. Accessed on April 2, 2013). In order to meet this vision, environmental education continues to be one of the imperative strategies, aiming at improving environmental quality, thereby the quality of life of humans and other life forms across India. However, environmental education alone is inadequate in the present context since development planning today addresses the issues associated with a sustainable future. Hence, the challenge before the country is to shift from environmental education (EE) to education for sustainable development (ESD) integrating the principles of sustainable development, embracing values and wisdom and not just information. While EE took almost 30 years in India since its emergence in 1970s to carve a niche in the mainstream education and programmes, the concept of ESD has to move faster to improve the present development planning process. This chapter provides an overview of EE in India, tracing its evolution and capturing some of the important thinking, practices as well as challenges.