Schools should incorporate environmental education into their curricula, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship from an early age
“How long does it take for a plastic bottle to decompose?" asked the teacher to a class full of children and parents at a monthly parent-teacher meeting. The answer: 500-700 years left everyone startled and gave each other a look of shock. The next question was, "How much plastic waste is generated in Delhi alone?" The answer: According to an assessment carried out by the Delhi government's environment department in 2020, Delhi generates 1,060 tonnes of plastic waste every day, explained the teacher. A group of parents and children stood up to commit to using cloth bags and reusable water bottles, along with motivating their peers to adopt sustainable practices as small as these.
Children are the most vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and environmental changes. They are also the ones who will inherit the planet, so we must listen to their voices and empower them to be agents of change. India's environmental challenges are extensive, encompassing air and water pollution, scarcity of food and water, inadequate waste management, and biodiversity loss.
One promising avenue lies in empowering children, who possess a unique perspective and untapped potential to contribute to environmental solutions. As future custodians of the planet, they will bear the burden of environmental degradation. By involving children as stakeholders in decision-making processes and policy discussions, their creativity, innovative thinking, and passion can be harnessed to shape a sustainable future. However, empowering children goes beyond tokenistic gestures; it requires meaningful participation, genuine inclusion of their perspectives, and the protection of their rights. Adoption of innovative approaches is needed to engage children in the journey to build their stewardship for the planet and do what is best for themselves, their homes, and the community around them.
Through initiatives like 'Mera Planet Mera Ghar,' children have actively engaged with environmental concerns to adopt sustainable practices and influence the community and policymakers, thus exemplifying a paradigm shift in recognizing children's agency in environmental stewardship. This initiative is making significant strides in empowering children and amplifying their voices on environmental concerns in their communities. Through surveys, interactive activities, science-based experiments, workshops, and community events, the initiative provides children with a platform to build environmental stewardship, express their views, and develop a deep understanding of environmental challenges and their implications. However, genuine empowerment requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses educational reforms, policy changes, and collaboration among media, civil society organizations, the government, and, most importantly, the citizens of India. Along with this, there is an acute need to engage children where they are and empower them to take immediate steps so that they can make sense of their environment and adopt sustainable behaviour as a lifelong practice. By incorporating environmental education into curricula, prioritizing children's participation in decision-making processes, and creating platforms that amplify their voices, India can unlock the full potential of empowering children and building a sustainable future. To fully realize the potential of empowering children as environmental stakeholders, broader systemic changes are necessary. Educational institutions should incorporate environmental education into their curricula, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship from an early age to enable the adoption of behaviours for sustainable practices.
Campaigns like 'Mera Planet, Mera Ghar' have shown tremendous potential in engaging children in environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices. Through science-based experiments, interactive workshops, and multimedia content, the campaign educates children about the environment and empowers them to become agents of change.
The involvement of local leaders, parents, and NGO partners ensures that children's voices are heard, and their demands are taken seriously. The campaign's success in reaching millions of people through social media platforms and generating significant engagement highlights the importance of collaborative efforts between various stakeholders. While empowering children and incorporating environmental education into the curriculum are important steps, it is crucial to acknowledge the limitations and potential drawbacks of such approaches.
Decision-making processes should balance children's involvement with their age-appropriate understanding of complex environmental issues. Short-term campaigns may fail to bring about lasting behavioural change or significant policy shifts. Environmental challenges require sustained and systemic changes that go beyond awareness-raising and educational initiatives. Therefore, it is crucial to complement these efforts with comprehensive policy reforms, investment in infrastructure, and stronger regulations to address the root causes of environmental problems.
(The writer is Managing Trustee, of Sesame Workshop India Trust. Views expressed are the personal)
