Students as catalysts of environmental change: a framework for researching intergenerational influence through environmental education (First published in Volume 4, Number 3)

Environmental education aims to foster public awareness of and concern about environmental issues, problems and solutions by providing people with opportunities to acquire the knowledge, values, attitudes, commitment and skills needed to investigate issues, solve problems and protect and improve the environment (UNESCO, 1977). Accordingly, it seeks to develop an active and informed citizenry committed to the values and practices of ecological and social sustainability (Fien, 1993a, b). Environmental education in the formal school context can play an important role in this process. Instead, students are a key audience for environmental messages as they are tomorrow’s leaders and stewards of the Earth.