This document discusses various environmental crises like pollution, overpopulation, climate change, and loss of biodiversity. It notes that rapid urbanization, industrialization, and deforestation are leading to issues like food and water insecurity. While technology and science have benefits, they have also damaged the environment through pollution and resource depletion. The relationship between culture and the environment is also explored, as cultural values, beliefs, and practices shape and are shaped by the environment. Including indigenous communities' knowledge in governance can improve conservation efforts and quality of life.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
UNIT-III
Culture Environmental Nexus
Dr.N.SASIKUMAR
Assistant Professor
Department of Education
Alagappa University
Karaikudi-630003

2. ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS
 An ecological crisis occurs when changes to the
environment of a species or population destabilizes its
continued survival. Some of the important causes include:
Degradation of an abiotic ecological factor (for example,
increase of temperature, less significant rainfalls) Increased
pressures from predation.
 Pollution of air, land and water through excessive
deforestation, industrialization and overfilling landfills
which emits CO2 and adds to greenhouse gas
emissions are all topmost causes of these environmental
issues.

3. MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS
 Pollution
 Overpopulation
 Waste disposal
 Overfishing.
 Climate change
 Loss of Biodiversity
 Ocean Acidification.
 Ozone Layer Depletion.
 Global warming and
 Greenhouse effect
 Displacement/extinction of wildlife, etc.

4.  The rapidly growing demographic structure and
globalisation are leading to a number of
environmental issues because of the uncontrolled
urbanisation, industrialisation, deforestation and
loss of useful agriculture land. The global
environmental health impact remains profoundly
perturbing.
 Common effects are food and water insecurity,
respiratory illness and disease, mental distress and
emotional health problems, family separation, social
network loss, housing damage, unemployment,
income disruption and asset depletion.
Environmental change is also a social justice issue.

5. Science,Technology and
Environmental Crisis
 These technologies have damaged our world in two main
ways; pollution and the depletion of natural resources.
Air pollution occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of
gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur
dioxide, nitric oxide and methane are introduced into the
earth's atmosphere.
 Pollution - Air, water, heat and noise pollution can all be
caused by producing and using technology. Consuming
resources - Non-renewable resources, including precious
metals like gold, are used to make technology. Many others,
such as coal, are consumed to generate the electricity to use
technology.

6. The use of technology may affect the
environment positively or negatively. Some
technological decisions put environmental
and economic concerns in competition with
one another, while others have positive effects
for both the economy and the environment.
The achievements of science and technology
have led to serious pollution and degradation
of the human environment. Industries,
factories and locomotive wastes and smokes
pollute the air leading to acid rains, global
warming and depletion of the ozone layer.

7. CULTURAL VALUES AND ENVIRONMENT
 NATURE AND CULTURE converge in many ways that
span values, beliefs and norms to practices, livelihoods,
knowledge and languages. As a result, there exists a
mutual feedback between cultural systems and the
environment, with a shift in one often leading to a
change in the other.
 Cultural environments are environments shaped by human
activities, such as cultural landscapes in the countryside,
forests, urban areas and cities, fixed archaeological
structures on land or water, constructions and built
environments from different ages, along with bridges,
roads, power lines and industrial and harbour areas.

8.  A survey shows that the majority of people believe
in climate change, but culture accounts for
differences in the importance given to it. Cultural
values, such as collectivism and a long-term
orientation, influence individuals'
environmental attitudes and behaviors, studies
show.
 In addition to its intrinsic value, culture provides
important social and economic benefits. With
improved learning and health, increased tolerance,
and opportunities to come together with others,
culture enhances our quality of life and increases
overall well-being for both individuals and
communities.

9. Environment and sensitive culture
need to revive traditional values
 In the context of environmental protection, cultures,
religions and legal systems throughout the world contain
elements that respect and seek to conserve the natural
bases of life, maintaining concepts that can enhance
and enrich the development of modern environmental
law.
 Engaging with the beliefs, values and practices that
connect people to nature, cultural values approaches
help to reinforce these, embedding them in
conservation initiatives, and harnessing mutual benefits
for conservation and cultural protection.

10. 4 Including indigenous peoples and local communities in
environmental governance and drawing from their
knowledge enhances their quality of life. It also improves
conservation, restoration, and the sustainable use of
nature, which benefits society at large.
4 Faith-based organizations play a significant role at the
global, regional and local level in addressing climate
change, biodiversity loss and pollution,” said
Ambassador Mussie Hailu, Director of Global Partnership,
United Religions Initiative.
4 The people have adapted their ways of life and behaviors
to survive in their unique environment. Explain
that different cultures develop different characteristics
primarily because of adaptations to environments.
Traditions often begin as people find rituals and routines
that help them survive.