# Section 2: Promoting Environmental Education: Spirit Nurtured by the Environment and the Environment Protected by the Spirit

The first step toward the Environmental Revolution in daily life is reforming the conscious mind. In other words, it is to deepen understanding and knowledge of the relationship between humans and the environment and to voluntarily lead an environmentally conscious lifestyle and exhibit responsible behavior. Being able to familiarize ourselves with nature and to feel the environment with our five senses plays an important role in cultivating environmental consciousness in children and bringing relief to adults. We need to understand that environmental problems are consequences of our daily lives and our society, and we need to make efforts to solve the problems with our own initiatives. It is important to bring up individuals who are receptive to the environment and who are knowledgeable about it. Environmental education is a means to that end.

A piece of legislation on environmental education, known as the “Law concerning the Enhancement of Willingness for Environmental Conservation and Promotion of Environmental Education,” was enacted in July 2003, with part of it established in October of the same year. To facilitate its complete enforcement in October 2004, the government must proceed with the formulation of basic policies and actively implement policies and measures based on this Law. To prepare for the “United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development” scheduled to start in 2005, the public and private sectors are working together to consolidate educational concepts for sustainable development and to explore long-term implementation plans.

To promote environmental education, it is important to not only have knowledge about the environment but also to train experts to equip them with practical experience, leadership for solving problems, and the ability to work with different groups.

When children are asked what attracted them to environmental conservation, most of them replied that it was what their mothers said or did. This shows the important influence of family members on children. Furthermore, because primary and middle schools are readily available venues in every community, they are expected to become the centers of environmental education and training in various parts of the country.

It has become necessary not only for children but also for adults to form environmentally conscious lifestyles through environmental education, including consumer education, offered by businesses or places of lifelong learning. We can also expect our seniors to do their

What inspire you to participate in environmental conservation activities?

Source: Ministry of the Environment, Survey of Environment-conscious Lifestyle (Eco Survey of Children), FY 2002

Environmental Education for Employees

job of passing on the traditional lifestyle of cherishing things, which gives testimony to their experiences and wisdom in life.

About three-quarters of all companies provide environmental education to employees. Some major companies in the community also cooperate with civil organizations in offering environmental education to children in the community. Such activities are expected to increase in the future.

Besides increasing support for environmental education in schools, businesses, and civil organizations in the areas of human resources, technology, and funding, the government needs to gather information on successful cases in Japan and overseas and conduct surveys to review the current state of environmental education. It is also important to build partnerships with concerned parties in various fields.