Environmental education as a tool to improve sustainability and promote global health: lessons from the COVID-19 to avoid other pandemics

Abstract

Human impacts such as industrial activities and uncontrolled urbanization have intensified environmental degradation, harming global ecosystems and public health. In this context, several studies highlight the emergence of infectious zoonotic diseases which potentially lead to global pandemics. The current COVID-19 pandemic illustrates such a trend, as its origins are related to the mismanagement of natural habitats and wildlife. Thus, it is fundamental to effectively address the interacting factors that stimulate the outbreak of pandemics. The present research assesses how environmental degradation contributed to the COVID-19 emergence, and present Environmental Education as an essential tool to raise awareness on the interaction of environmental protection, ecology and public health. We analyze successful international initiatives that encourage Environmental Education, such as the United Nations’s Earth School, the Unesco’s Global Education Coalition and the Brazilian initiative Ame o Tucunduba. We conclude that promoting Environmental Education may play a vital role in tackling challenges such as global pandemics by improving sustainability, and thus may avoid future environmental and health threats.