Is individual change really enough in re-greening the planet? If you think of how little one’s contribution could be, it’s a bit discouraging. That is, of course, if you cannot impact change at the root level, before a person has contributed greatly to the problem.
This is why it makes sense that children should be taught their role in saving the planet while they’re in school. Here are some reasons to consider:
They are our future leaders
They are an individual right now, but they have a long future ahead of them. They can progress towards various careers, and if they have attended a school that has gone through a whole school sustainability audit, they will be more familiar with practices that will not harm the planet. They can then normalize these practices and continue to observe them no matter what field they venture into. Their curiosity and passion towards sustainability, when sparked at a young age, may even result in them solving problems we don’t currently address.
They are naturally curious and innovative
In their early years, they develop their problem-solving skills. This is the time when they develop their character and personality, and you can start to see their artistic and logical sides bloom. This is prime time to introduce them to concepts that may seemingly be beyond their reach, but can be explained on a smaller scale so that they can better digest the information. Once they have a working knowledge of how Earth is dying, they can start to raise questions and ponder solutions that adults might not have considered. This isn’t to say children have the answers, but their unique perspective on things could help see what we’re missing.
Yes, one person’s actions will not be enough to fix environmental problems. But if you introduce sustainability to one person who then becomes the leader of a manufacturing company, think of how much impact their love for sustainability can have.
For more information, visit: Metanoia