Environmental education for all under new plan
12 December 2002
The most ambitious environmental education plan in Australia was released to the community today by the NSW State Government at Parliament House.
Minister for the Environment, Bob Debus, said NSW was the first state in Australia to take on the mammoth task of coordinating environmental education to everyone, including business, private citizens, councils and State Government departments.
"Our three-year plan, Learning for Sustainability, aims to provide unprecedented opportunities for environmental education for people at home, work, school and play," said Mr Debus.
"It sets out actions for state agencies and we will review their progress each year.
Areas of action include:
- A $5 million, three-year extension to the EPA's Cleaner Production Program to help business discover that good environmental practice can also save money.
- A $20 million package of salinity education measures including information, job-related training, learning-by-doing and home-based education
- A $17.5 million sustainability community education campaign, under the banner of Our environment, it's a living thing
- Sharing Aboriginal culture and knowledge of biodiversity via Discovery Programs in New South Wales National Parks.
- Cutting greenhouse gas emissions and making better use of the Internet.
- All government schools using a new environmental education policy and developing school environmental management plans,
- Support for regional communities through planFIRST which will result in environmental plans better suited to local needs.
Mr Debus said the far-reaching plan meets deep-seated community needs.
"EPA research since 1994 shows people consistently rate education as the single most important thing the government can do to protect our environment," said Mr Debus.
"I want to be able to hand on to our children, a better world than we inherited from our parents.
"To do that, we need to make the best decisions on the environment - and that will happen only once all citizens have the best access to education about the environment and our impacts on it."
"I urge everyone to get a copy of the plan by ringing the EPA on 131 555," said Mr Debus.
Further information: Kate Meagher 9995 6508 / 0418 424 654