Energetics of Environmental Education in Transition

Today it is extremely important to have an understanding of environmental issues. This is because the human economy is engaged in a wide range of activities that are causing enormous damage to the ecosystems that sustain both our species and Earth’s legacy of biodiversity. All around us this is witnessed by pollution climate warming collapsing fisheries deforestation the degradation of agricultural soil extinctions and endangerment of species and other damages. Nevertheless we need not be overly pessimistic. If our society takes constructive actions now or at least soon it will not be too late to prevent or repair many of these important environmental problems which threaten the welfare of people and most other species. Within limits humans are prescient creatures and our society can implement a sustainable economy that can support our livelihoods as well as healthy ecosystems. It is clear however that any sustainable economy will involve ways of doing business that are different from those that have recently been dominant. It will also require fundamental changes in the lifestyles of many people. Ultimately such socio-economic transformations must involve much less use of energy materials and other resources in comparison with what many of us take for granted today. A more respectful attitude toward the natural world is also badly needed.