KNOWLEDGE IS NOT ENOUGH: Reimagining Environmental and Sustainability Education in the Caribbean as Environmental Consciousness Raising
Published 2021-12-21
Keywords
- Environmental and Sustainability Education,
- Environmental Consciousness,
- Caribbean Education
How to Cite
Abstract
This is a theoretical-position paper that seeks to advance thinking on environmental and sustainability education (ESE) for a Caribbean context. A critical review of literature and situational analysis of the Caribbean context are used to argue for the adoption of an environmental consciousness raising model to ESE, as negative events become more and more visible in the region. The islands of the Caribbean are small land masses with small carrying capacities and unique ecosystems that are particularly vulnerable to environmental degradation. At the same time, they are also striving for economic development. Two models of ESE are presented: technical rational ESE and ESE as environmental consciousness raising. The author advocates for the relevance of the latter for the region by building on existing work in the area both regionally and internationally and drawing upon salient sociopolitical and cultural features inherent to the Caribbean context.