What is environmental education and why is it important at school?

Education in environmental values is one of the most important areas in today’s educational programmes.

Understanding what environmental education is, establishing ecological values and developing healthy routines that protect our surroundings are the main aims of this part of the educational process.

At Palacio de Granda, we are deeply committed to passing on ecological values to our students. In addition to classroom learning, we organise a wide range of activities that allow them to stay in close contact with the natural environment around our school.

What is environmental education?

Environmental education is an educational process that helps develop awareness and understanding of environmental issues, encouraging responsible and sustainable behaviour towards the environment. This process seeks to build the skills, values and attitudes needed to understand both current and future environmental challenges.

Environmental education helps students understand the connection and interdependence between human beings and the environment. This involves promoting sustainable practices in all areas of life, including at home, at work, in education and during leisure time.

Environmental education can include different types of educational initiatives, such as formal and informal teaching programmes, awareness and outreach campaigns, outdoor activities, workshops and more.

Environmental education is a comprehensive educational process that aims to develop knowledge of the environment while encouraging responsible and sustainable behaviour. It is essential in addressing environmental challenges and building a more sustainable and fairer future for everyone.

The aims of environmental education

The main objective of environmental education is to raise awareness of environmental issues. To achieve this, it is important to work towards the following goals:

• Encouraging respect for the environment as a fundamental resource for human life and the wellbeing of all species.
• Promoting sustainable habits and practices in everyday routines related to food, transport, consumption and waste management.
• Developing the skills needed to identify and analyse environmental problems, and to make decisions focused on finding solutions.
• Encouraging participation in volunteering and community engagement activities.
• Developing a critical understanding of environmental policies, practices and technologies, while encouraging reflection on their social impact.

The importance of raising awareness among future generations

Raising awareness among future generations about respect for the environment is crucial to ensuring a sustainable future for our planet and for all the species that inhabit it. Environmental education from an early age is essential so that students understand the importance of the environment and the need to protect it.

Teaching children and young people about environmental problems, and how to prevent or solve them, is key to encouraging ecological practices. If young people understand the importance of caring for the environment and the consequences of failing to do so, they are more likely to take positive action and contribute to change.

Respect for the environment is a fundamental value for the sustainable development of society. In an increasingly interconnected world, environmental degradation has global effects and impacts all communities, including future generations. Environmental education can be a highly effective tool for encouraging cooperation and solidarity, with the aim of building a fairer and more sustainable future.

Schools have a responsibility when it comes to the environmental education of their students. Raising awareness among future generations about respect for the environment is essential to ensuring a sustainable future.

Ecological activities at Palacio de Granda

To understand what environmental education is, theoretical learning needs to be combined with practical activities that allow students to be in contact with nature. At Palacio de Granda, we are privileged to be located in an exceptional natural setting.

Siero is a municipality in the Principality of Asturias, located in the central area of the region, very close to Gijón. This natural setting provides the perfect environment for our students to discover the importance of ecology.

Another advantage of our school in relation to environmental education is that we are part of the Eco-Schools network. The Eco-Schools network is an educational programme that aims to promote environmental education and sustainability in schools across different countries around the world. This programme encourages the active participation of students, teachers and school staff in the environmental management of the school, the promotion of healthy and sustainable lifestyles and the development of environmental improvement projects.

As part of this educational organisation, our commitment includes carrying out activities in natural spaces close to our school, so that our students can get to know their surroundings.