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Teaching Responsibility for Climate Change: Three Neglected Issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2015

Manfred Lenzen  and
Syd Smith
Manfred Lenzen
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney
Syd Smith
Affiliation:
NSW Department of Education and Training
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Abstract

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Based on a review of NSW and Victorian education materials, we conclude that the following three issues are neglected within education about climate change, and should be included in future syllabuses: (1) there are large disparities in per-capita greenhouse gas emissions between industrialised and developing countries. Hence, international equity and its implications for Australians must be addressed. (2) There is a considerable gap between the outcome of Australian emissions abatement, and reductions, which are necessary to achieve an ecologically sustainable and internationally equitable emissions level. Given the absence of adequate technological and political incentives, the potential of individual responses must be further explored. (3) Responsibility for climate change is not restricted to emissions from households and private cars, but must be extended towards emissions associated with the personal consumption of goods and services.

Type
Research Article
Information
Australian Journal of Environmental Education , Volume 15: Volume 15-16 , 1999 , pp. 65 - 75
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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