ABSTRACT
Policy makers are struggling to establish clear and publicized principles against which to manage environmental strategies for handling issues such as BSE, foot and mouth and the wider challenge of developing and managing rural and urban social economies. Many ecologists propose that the precautionary principle is accepted as a means of dealing with ecological threats. The concept states that action on environmental issues should be taken even when scientifically there is uncertainty about whether such action is necessary
It is not hard to argue that schools pay more attention to issues of environmental sustainability than do government departments. Environment projects led by young people are already on the go in most schools. What is lacking, however, is coherent and readily available programmes for young people to engage with local environment agencies on monitoring, research and development issues including the management of risk.
