Most people – especially those living in large cities – have a fragmentary understanding of the term ‘environment’. For some it only refers to pristine lakes, mountains and forests, i.e. the natural habitats that support ecosystems. Some people refer to the environment strictly in the litter and trash sense, i.e. for them, concern for the environment has largely to do with keeping our cities pollution free.

The ‘environment’ is much more than these concerns. It is everything and anything that we as physical, biological and chemical beings are part of. It constitutes the natural and the man-made environment. It encompasses all living and non-living things and their interaction with each other. In fact, for many it also includes the philosophies, policies and practices that shape people’s status and relationship with their surroundings on the planet and with the universe.

According to our understanding today, England’s Industrial Revolution in the 18th century was a turning point in humanity’s impact on the environment. New machines that functioned on new sources of energy radically changed the manufacturing and agriculture process. But while more goods and food could be produced for human consumption, the Revolution also resulted in large-scale exploitation of natural resources (such as forests, coal, oil, cattle etc.) and increased emission of pollutants into the water, air and soil. This Revolution did not only pose a threat to the natural environment, it also cautioned us of humanity’s dependence and strong relationship with the environment, i.e. any damage to the environment would directly impact our health and our lives.

It is exactly this relationship that influences many activists, organizations and governments to fight for a better and cleaner environment, where factories pollute less, people consume carefully, animals, birds and plants all have well-preserved habitats, natural resources are used sustainably, cities and buildings are built efficiently and our environmental footprint is kept at a minimum.

Today, there is overwhelming scientific evidence available that prove the urgent and complex problems affecting the environment. Our ecological systems are significantly out of balance mainly because we are utilizing resources at an alarming rate such that resources are not being replenished steadily enough. Our consumption and activities are unsustainable and unjust. Unjust, not only because we have largely failed in our responsibility to be good caretakers of the planet, but also because our lifestyles are taking away the right of our future generations to enjoy fascinating examples of nature such as the Himalayan glaciers, the Bengal tiger, the Indus river or the Minke whale – many of which may well be as extinct as dinosaurs a few generations from now.

But, there is much we can do and teach our children so that we all become responsible stewards of nature. Changes in our lifestyles - such as using fewer plastic bags, eating less red meat, conserving electricity and water, avoiding wastage of food, using public transport etc. - are all ways by which we can contribute towards a better planet.

Why do we need environmental education?

Pakistan’s physical environment and natural resources are among its greatest assets and the basis for much of its economic development. These natural resources support industries that create employment and wealth. The key challenge we face is to raise the level of environmental literacy and respect so that our beautiful land, water and air do not become a human wasteland. Pakistan faces a number of complex environmental challenges, most of which cannot be solved by the government and NGOs alone. These environmental issues require the support and contribution of well-informed citizens who are willing to translate environmental knowledge into useful action.

As responsible parents we must encourage our children to reflect on their behaviours that impact the environment and, if necessary, suggest useful and practical changes. Children may continually question if small changes matter or not – our responsibility should be to convey the message that even small actions add up to protect our precious resources and build a better future for everyone and everything.

Key terms to explain to children
Sustainable development

The most commonly used definition of sustainable development is development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." To easily explain this concept to children, talk to them about a certain natural resource, say a small village lake that has fish in it. The villagers regularly fish in the lake to feed their families; and the fish give birth to new fish every year balancing the fish population in the lake. However, as the population of the village grows, the fishing increases, meaning that more fish is taken out of the lake than are born. Ask children what will happen to the lake and the fish population. Also ask them how it will affect the village and their future generations.

Climate change

Climate change refers to the change in distribution of weather over periods of time and across the planet. There is strong scientific evidence that suggests that human activities – such as burning fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal – are directly responsible for bringing about climate change at a much faster rate than we have experienced before. Children need to know about this global issue as they may be the ones who will have to find solutions to adapt to increasing climate change when they grow up. Parents can start off by explaining to children the primary cause of climate change, i.e. the greenhouse effect and how it is affected by the way we live.

Greenhouse effect

Perhaps the best way to teach children the greenhouse effect is to take them to an actual greenhouse. Explain to them that greenhouses are hot inside because they allow heat to enter but then trap some of it inside. Inform them that this is how earth’s system works, i.e. by trapping some heat inside our atmosphere. By emitting gases such as carbon dioxide (by using petrol, coal or by deforestation, i.e. cutting down forests), methane (from animal waste and landfills) and nitrogen & sulphur oxides (through trash and waste) we are increasing the layer that traps heat inside, consequently warming the planet more than we can tolerate.

The direct effect of the greenhouse effect is that ice melts faster, meaning that penguins and polar bears will have little place left to survive; floods and tsunamis will increase, meaning that more lives will be lost to natural hazards; places will become warmer, meaning more insects such as mosquitoes taking over our cities and towns. In short, the effects are too many and too harsh!

Built environment

The environment is not just about wildlife and ecosystems that exist on the planet, it also includes the man-made environment, i.e. our cities, homes, schools, roads, bridges, dams etc. The built environment, therefore, refers to our man-made surroundings, all of which are very important for a good quality of life. However, if this built environment is not adequately managed or constructed it can adversely affect our health and our lives. For e.g. if our water systems are unhygienic they can cause widespread disease; if our homes are not strong we can lose our lives to the slightest of earthquakes; if our roads are not well planned we can be victims of accidents. These are just some of the examples of how an inadequate built environment can impact our lives.