We need to gain a greater understanding of the biosphere. An ignorant population is unlikely to practice ecologically sound policies. Issues related to the sources and effects of pollution, the limits of our natural resources, and a basic understanding of our place in nature are all important. It would be egotistical to presume that we could engineer the environment. We must instead cultivate a responsible population. Recreating the Earth so it can provide for our unquenchable material desires and obsession with comfort is not the answer. Instead, we must retrofit our needs to those of the environment. Along with this, our world leaders must be taught that ecological wisdom is based on a firm understanding of how international affairs, global and regional finance, along with the health of our species, relates to industrial and technological advances.
Perhaps all schooling is environmental studies. Our students will determine that we are a part of, or apart from nature, through the courses they take. Whatever is stressed or overlooked, affirmed or denied, accepted or rejected impacts on the worldview of the pupil. Just as all actions may be seen as political, concepts of neglect or care for our ecosystem are transmitted to students throughout their education. When other departments exclude environmental studies, it becomes more difficult to adequately address some of our most important issues. As if ecology had nothing to do with other areas of study, it is often confined to the biology department. Most courses today concentrate on production sciences that promote the exploitation of natural resources. Few courses focus on the results of this exploitation. And fewer still are directed at advancing sustainable options that empower us to survive as a viable part within our ecosystem. Our egotistical fixations with our own history, philosophy, art, sport and comforts have overshadowed the need to live in a sustainable environment. This anthropocentric stance has persuaded many to believe that it is pure human ingenuity that will set us free from our eco-bonds. Once liberated, we will be able to exploit and extract a limitless amount of natural resources, without any price to pay. The ignorance of such an approach, commonly held in the sciences and ethics, as well as the lack of plain old common sense, is apparent in this worldview. In fact, all areas of research and study would benefit from an environmental section of each curriculum.
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