# Chapter 3

# People and Systems for Shaping a New Era

# – and Building a Network

## Summary of Chapter 3>

This chapter discusses ways of cultivating people and devising systems for building a sustainable society in a new era.

Cultivating people and systems that facilitate environmental conservation and the creation of a network in which all actors of society are linked to each other will eventually lead to the realization of an environmentally advanced nation in a new era.

## Section 1 People for Shaping a New Era

### 1. People Who Can Act with Environmental Consideration – Cultivating the Spirit of “Mottainai”

Today’s environmental problems have two dimensions; they expand spatially on a global scale and extend in time over future generations. In view of the unprecedented nature of these problems, it is necessary to cultivate people with the ability to think independently of the causes of the problems and finding their solutions and address them on their own initiative. To this end, environmental education is of great importance.

In environmental education, building the capacity to act on one’s own is as important as acquiring knowledge and deepening understanding. The aim of environmental education is to train people to be aware of the relationship between human beings and the environment and to be responsible for their own behavior, thus encouraging them to work toward creating a sustainable society. It is hoped that such people will carry out daily living and activities with environmental consideration as a responsible member of the family and local community, and take positive actions in dealing with environmental issues.

The expression mottainai does not simply mean to use less, but implies a feeling of regret that the intrinsic value of a thing or its function is not thoroughly used. Eliminating energy waste and using a thing to its fullest through the practice of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” is in line with the spirit of mottainai. Encouraging people to respect the spirit expressed in mottainai and to translate it into practice will lead to realizing a society in which environmental load is reduced while maintaining affluence.

### 2. Groundwork for Cultivating People

Lack of information on teaching methods and appropriate teaching materials is often pointed out by those providing environmental education. To promote environmental education even further, it will be necessary to establish concrete methods for implementation, train education providers, and develop information resources and bases for carrying out environmental education.

To promote environmental education, firstly, it is necessary to organize environmental education programs that facilitate concrete actions. It is desirable that environmental education programs are developed under the cooperation between home, schools, businesses, citizens' groups, and the government, systematically organized with clear objectives for each learning stage, incorporating elements of play and hands-on experience, according to themes and children's development stage and comprehension.

It is also vital to train experts and coordinators in charge of environmental education. In addition to scientific knowledge of the environment, teachers are required to have a fair attitude and the ability to make comprehensive value judgments based on broad knowledge.

Furthermore, it is necessary to establish and provide an information infrastructure and to make effective use of environmental learning bases.