Education vs Sustainability

Environmental education is important for sustainability of environmental programmes. As the result of sustainable development process is long term and impact can only be felt in years to come, it is critical to utilise education well so that foundation on understanding sustainability, awareness and willingness to do good are come from within inner self. Doing good for environment is individual initiatives and having better value system and understanding, of course the means will help individual to achieve what has been desired for. I think nobody would not agree to having good educational and awareness programmes.

However if an awareness program has been implemented decades ago and years in years out producing very insignificant result, then evaluating the effectiveness of programmes should be done. Improvement should be in place from time to time.

Having said so, educational programme alone is not sufficient. Multiple approaches encompassing other mechanismes, processes and means are required as lead programme or at least to compliment the educational programme. For example, as a short and mid term strategy, it is good of having economic instrument or regulation to increase the effectiveness of the voluntary mechanisme. Take recycling for instance, if people are not willing to recycle even though sufficient information about the advantages of recycling, location of recycling centre and organisations involved, then incentive such as providing reward under the buy back system can be of help. However, if the result is not forthcoming, then perhaps make it mandatory or compulsory for people to recycle can be another vible option.

However, relying on only one option is definitely not a sustainable solution. As what sustainable development is suggesting, it is an integration and balancing of social, economic and environmental development. Hoping much on education and awareness programmes only without other complimentary actions are to me a no start enroute to sustainability.