Cross-Cutting Questions

Environmental education appears to be on the cusp of an opportune moment; there is now a much higher level of environmental awareness and concern in many parts of the world. We expect these concerns to grow as pressures upon the Earth’s systems increase and as socio-ecological conflicts intensify. Resolution of most environmental issues will require thoughtful, informed, and educated citizens placing pressure on political leaders. But what are our next steps?

We see the Congress as an opportunity to engage in a collective research and learning process. In this spirit, we pose three questions for participants to consider throughout the Congress:

By focusing on these questions throughout the Congress, and in each of the conference strands, we expect that all participants and presenters can contribute to both the research direction of the meeting and the Congress outputs. This outlook will add an important dimension to the usual exchanges, reflections, professional development, and networking that occur at international conferences.

In the months following the Congress, the compilation of all the responses to these questions will be collated and disseminated. These will serve as the building blocks for a case in favour of environmental education and a powerful argument for government support of local, regional, and global initiatives.