ENVIRONMENTAL
LITERACY PLANNING
SPONSOR
Albert I Pierce Foundation
WHY IS EE IMPORTANT?
Increasingly complex
environmental challenges
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
Doubt and confusion about climate change
2011 Yale Study:
Americans think there is a great deal of
disagreement among scientists about whether
global warming is real and if so, whether
humans have a role.
They are largely unconcerned about the effects
of global warming.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
Diminishing quality and quantity of freshwater resources
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
Pollution in air, land and water
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
Methods for resource extraction
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
Burning fossil fuels / developing alternative energy sources
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
Oceans
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
◈Population Growth
SYSTEMS
◈Economies
◈Cultures
◈Environment
SYSTEMS THINKING
Need critical thinkers
.
that understand complex
and interwoven systems
STUDY: ENVIRONMENTAL
LITERACY IN AMERICA
Good News: Support for EE!
95% Support EE in Schools
85% Support government EE programs
80% think private companies should train employees to help solve
environmental problems
STUDY: ENVIRONMENTAL
LITERACY IN AMERICA
Bad News: Americans fail basic quiz
45 million think that the ocean is a source of freshwater
120 million think spray cans still have CFCs in them (outlawed ‘78)
130 million believe hydropower is America’s top energy source
STUDY: ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY IN
AMERICA
Example: What is the most common cause of
pollution of streams, rivers and oceans?
1. Dumping of garbage by cities
2. Surface water running off yards, city streets,
paved lots, and farm fields
3. Trash washed into the ocean from beaches
4. Waste dumped by factories
STUDY: ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY IN
AMERICA
Example: What is the primary benefit of wetlands?
1. Promote flooding
2. Help clean water before it enters lakes, streams,
rivers or oceans
3. Help keep the number of undesirable plants and
animals low
4. Provide good sites for landfills
KIDS SPEND LESS TIME OUTDOORS
55 hours/week on
digital media
½ hour/week
outside with
unstructured
PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS
DECLINES
Childhood Obesity
HOW DO WE ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND
INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ?
NO CHILD LEFT INSIDE
Federal legislation that would create support for the
implementation of Environmental Literacy Plans in states
where they have been adopted by the Public Education
Departments.
Parts of NCLI have been included in the draft of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
CONTENTS OF ELP
1. Prepare students to understand, analyze, and address major
environmental challenges of their state and country.
2. Provide field experiences as part of our regular curriculum and
create programs that contribute to healthy lifestyles and sound
nutrition.
3. Healthy lifestyles through outdoor recreation and sound
nutrition.
4. Create opportunities for professional development for teachers
to gain subject matter knowledge and pedagogical skills.
5. Assessment of environmental literacy and graduation
requirements for environmental literacy.
6. How will plan be implemented and funded?
STATES WITH COMPLETED PLANS
 Maryland
 Kansas
 Colorado
 Washington
 Oregon
 Nebraska
 Kentucky
 North Carolina
 Missouri
MOST OF THE REMAINING STATES ARE WORKING ON THEIR PLANS
BUILDING A KNOWLEDGEABLE
AND ENGAGED CITIZENRY
STEM
AND EE
TASKS
1.
2.
3.
4.
Continue to build coalition to work on plan.
Hold regional meetings for input and review.
Online opportunities to contribute to plan.
Publicize and circulate drafts for maximum input.