How did the Stockholm Conference shape environmental education in 1972?

2 The main outcomes of the conference

The conference resulted in several important outcomes, such as the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, which contained 26 principles on rights and responsibilities of states and individuals, and the Action Plan for the Human Environment, which outlined 109 recommendations for environmental management. Additionally, it led to the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a leading global authority on environmental issues, as well as the creation of the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) as a research and policy center on environmental and development issues.

3 The implications for environmental education

One of the key aspects of the conference was the recognition of the importance of environmental education as a tool for raising awareness, fostering participation, and promoting change. The conference endorsed the following definition of environmental education:

"Environmental education is the process of recognizing values and clarifying concepts in order to develop skills and attitudes necessary to understand and appreciate the inter-relatedness among man, his culture and his biophysical surroundings. Environmental education also entails practice in decision-making and self-formulation of a code of behavior about issues concerning environmental quality."

The conference also recommended that environmental education should be integrated into all levels and forms of education, as well as into non-formal and informal learning activities. It also called for the development of curricula, materials, methods, and training for environmental education, as well as for international cooperation and exchange in this field.

4 The challenges and criticisms of the conference

Despite its successes and impact, the conference also encountered multiple challenges and criticisms. These included a lack of consensus and commitment from some countries, particularly those in the developing world, who felt their perspectives were not heard or taken into account. There was also tension between environmental protection and economic development, which was highlighted in debates about population growth, resource consumption, and pollution. Moreover, a large gap existed between the rhetoric and reality of environmental action, as many of the conference's recommendations and resolutions were not completely followed through on by the countries and organizations involved. Additionally, some voices were marginalized or excluded from the process, such as indigenous peoples, women, youth, and grassroots groups who were not adequately consulted or included in the conference's outcomes.