Environmental Adult Education: Ecological Learning, Theory, and Practice for Socioenvironmental Change

Abstract

Why is it important to discuss environmental issues in the context of adult and continuing education? Many of the world's adults are very much aware of environmental problems and are afraid, in fact terrified, that the world is in immediate danger. Their understandings come from a variety of sources such as personal observations and daily lived experiences, their peers, news reports and other media, and community-action campaigns. However, environmental problems loom large and can be difficult to understand due to both their scientific nature, and more importantly, the complexity of ideo-logical standpoints at their origin. The latter barrier makes it difficult for people to envision how they can possibly make a difference, thereby engendering feelings of hopelessness, fear, confusion, and apathy.