Last reviewed 4 Nov 2026 · 3 min read
1. Environmental education
- Aim: awareness, knowledge, attitudes, skills and participation to protect the environment.
- Belgrade Charter (1975) and the Tbilisi Declaration (1977) — the first intergovernmental conference on environmental education (UNESCO–UNEP) — set its goals and principles.
- In India, the Supreme Court (M. C. Mehta v. Union of India, 1991/2003) directed that environmental education be made compulsory at all levels; it is taught as a subject in schools and as "Environmental Studies" in undergraduate courses (UGC).
- Programmes: National Green Corps (eco-clubs in schools), Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme (EIACP), Mission LiFE.
2. Environmental ethics
| View | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Anthropocentric | Nature has value only as it serves humans |
| Biocentric | All living beings have intrinsic value (Albert Schweitzer's "reverence for life") |
| Ecocentric | Value lies in whole ecosystems and ecological processes |
| Deep ecology (Arne Naess, 1973) | Humans are one part of nature; reduce human interference |
| Land ethic (Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac, 1949) | An action is right if it helps keep the biotic community whole, stable and beautiful — people are members of the land community, not its conquerors |
| Gandhian view | "The earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed"; simple living |
| Indian traditions | Sacred groves, worship of rivers and trees, the Bishnoi community's protection of trees and blackbuck (Khejarli sacrifice, 1730) |
Environmental justice
- Poor and marginalised communities often bear the heaviest pollution and displacement.
- Movements: Chipko (1973), Appiko (1983), Narmada Bachao Andolan (1985), Silent Valley (1970s–80s), Bishnoi movement.
- Article 21 (right to life) has been interpreted by courts to include the right to a clean and healthy environment; Article 48A (State's duty) and 51A(g) (citizen's duty) protect the environment.