ABSTRACT

This chapter deals with environmental hazards in Nigeria as well as environmental education in education system, since environmental education holds the key to action. The environment consists of two major components: the natural and the cultural environment. The socio-cultural or man-made environment is that part of the human environment which has been designed by man and super-imposed upon the basic needs for food, shelter, clothing, health, education and productive work. In man's attempt to satisfy his basic physiological needs, pursue social, economic and political advancement, dramatic changes have taken place in relation to the human-biosphere relationship. The severity of the outcome of environmental issues vary in intensity and spatial occurence and include severe pressure on resource base, exposure of the soil to erosion, depletion of the ozone layer, and etc. Having dealt with the environmental problems, a shift can be made to the area of action. Education becomes environmental when it focuses on environmental problems and issues of contemporary society.