The Development of Responsible Environmental Citizenship: A Critical Challenge

Abstract

Although this article should not be considered a research article, its content is based almost entirely on research into responsible environmental behavior. It looks at instructional practice in environmental education and some of the flaws associated with it. The research that guides successful curriculum development and instruction is briefly discussed, and inferences flowing from that research are stated and described. The article then describes what the author believes to be the critical educational components that must be in place if receivers are to become lifelong responsible decision makers in society. Following this is a discussion of what an instructional program would look like that can be predicted to lead to responsible citizenship action regarding important environmental issues.