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A Discussion of Critical Issues in Environmental Education: An Interview with Dianne Saxe
Author(s) -
ACTON KAREN S.,
SAXE DIANNE
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of philosophy of education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.501
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1467-9752
pISSN - 0309-8249
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9752.12460
Subject(s) - feeling , overconsumption , sociology , environmental education , energy (signal processing) , public relations , environmental ethics , political science , psychology , pedagogy , economics , social psychology , philosophy , statistics , mathematics , production (economics) , macroeconomics
Abstract Education plays a vital role in addressing the issues associated with the global climate crisis. This paper provides a brief background of the inception of environmental education and reveals that the literature shows that environmental curriculum is not being uniformly implemented in schools. In the interview that follows, Dr Dianne Saxe, former Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, outlines what needs to be done to help our youth understand the complexities of environmental issues. She urges education systems to provide young people with the facts, tempered with clear actions that can be taken to mitigate the effects of climate change. This includes a drastic reduction in the use of fossil fuels by changing the ways we use transportation, produce our food and manage our overconsumption of goods. Dr Saxe believes that students have more influence than they realise and taking action is a critical piece to lessening feelings of eco‐anxiety. The climate crisis is most likely our most defining challenge. We do our youth an immense disservice if policymakers and educators do not make environmental education a priority and make sure students are equipped with the knowledge and tools to act. Interviewee : Dr Dianne Saxe is one of Canada's most respected environmental lawyers, with 40 years of experience writing, interpreting and litigating energy and environmental laws. Dr Saxe was recognised as one of the world's top 25 environmental lawyers by Best of the Best 2008. Some of her many honours include the Award for Distinguished Service by the Ontario Bar Association, and the Alumni Gold Key Award for exceptional lifetime professional achievement granted by Osgoode Hall Law School. Dr Saxe was the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario from 2015 to 2019. She was appointed to be the guardian of the Environmental Bill of Rights and to report to the Legislature on Ontario's environmental, energy and climate performance. Dr Saxe is currently heading Saxe Facts, providing strategic advice on climate, energy and the environment. Article Author and Interviewer : Dr Karen S. Acton is an educator with 30 years of experience in both the elementary and secondary panels as a teacher, department head, principal, and at the Ministry of Education as an Education Officer. As a system‐level principal, Dr Acton spent 5 years as the Environmental Sustainability Lead for the Upper Grand District School Board, implementing a board‐wide Environmental Action Plan to encourage increased sustainability measures and to foster eco‐literacy. Dr Acton currently teaches at Western University and consults for Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF). Her research interests include school leadership, environmental teacher leadership and eco‐justice.