237
Chapter 15
Education for Environmental Citizenship:
The Pedagogical Approach
Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis and Demetra Paraskeva-Hadjichambi
15.1 The Need for Education for Environmental Citizenship
Despite its importance Environmental Citizenship has been under-explored until the
last few years (Dobson 2007). Due to the complexity of the concept, Environmental
Citizenship was not clearly defined and framed (Environmental Evidence Australia
2012) in relation to other concepts such as environmental behaviour, environmental
attitudes, environmental literacy, environmental education, environmental knowledge, awareness and sustainability. In addition, the fragmented nature of the research
findings and information related to Environmental Citizenship constraint its effective incorporation into educational practices and frameworks.
However, this comprehensive concept has been elucidated from collective
research efforts and Environmental Citizenship has been conceptualized (ENEC
2018). Environmental Citizenship is an umbrella concept that encompasses an array
of characteristics such as the skills, knowledge, attitudes, values, and beliefs needed
to address environmental problems, as well as all the competences needed for civic
engagement and active participation in societies.
Several chapters of this book maintain that in view of the development towards
more sustainable societies, citizens need to be supported to overcome challenges in
taking part in sustainable societies. In addition, within a sustainable society young
people need to understand that they could and should have a political role beyond
the legal frameworks of representative democracies; as young people they are also
citizens rather than ‘future citizens’. Empowering people to become environmental
citizens is crucial for addressing current environmental issues and a necessary
A. Ch. Hadjichambis (*) · D. Paraskeva-Hadjichambi
Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education, CYCERE, Lemesos, Cyprus
Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture, Nicosia, Cyprus
e-mail: a.chadjihambi@cytanet.com.cy; demhad@ucy.ac.cy
© The Author(s) 2020
A. Ch. Hadjichambis et al. (eds.), Conceptualizing Environmental Citizenship
for 21st Century Education, Environmental Discourses in Science Education 4,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20249-1_15
Chapter 15
Education for Environmental Citizenship:
The Pedagogical Approach
Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis and Demetra Paraskeva-Hadjichambi
15.1 The Need for Education for Environmental Citizenship
Despite its importance Environmental Citizenship has been under-explored until the
last few years (Dobson 2007). Due to the complexity of the concept, Environmental
Citizenship was not clearly defined and framed (Environmental Evidence Australia
2012) in relation to other concepts such as environmental behaviour, environmental
attitudes, environmental literacy, environmental education, environmental knowledge, awareness and sustainability. In addition, the fragmented nature of the research
findings and information related to Environmental Citizenship constraint its effective incorporation into educational practices and frameworks.
However, this comprehensive concept has been elucidated from collective
research efforts and Environmental Citizenship has been conceptualized (ENEC
2018). Environmental Citizenship is an umbrella concept that encompasses an array
of characteristics such as the skills, knowledge, attitudes, values, and beliefs needed
to address environmental problems, as well as all the competences needed for civic
engagement and active participation in societies.
Several chapters of this book maintain that in view of the development towards
more sustainable societies, citizens need to be supported to overcome challenges in
taking part in sustainable societies. In addition, within a sustainable society young
people need to understand that they could and should have a political role beyond
the legal frameworks of representative democracies; as young people they are also
citizens rather than ‘future citizens’. Empowering people to become environmental
citizens is crucial for addressing current environmental issues and a necessary
A. Ch. Hadjichambis (*) · D. Paraskeva-Hadjichambi
Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education, CYCERE, Lemesos, Cyprus
Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture, Nicosia, Cyprus
e-mail: a.chadjihambi@cytanet.com.cy; demhad@ucy.ac.cy
© The Author(s) 2020
A. Ch. Hadjichambis et al. (eds.), Conceptualizing Environmental Citizenship
for 21st Century Education, Environmental Discourses in Science Education 4,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20249-1_15