GOAL:
Promote an environmentally knowledgeable and concerned public.

OBJECTIVE:
Expand environmental education and information efforts and encourage active public participation.

STATUS & TRENDS:
The need for an environmentally aware citizenry has become increasingly obvious as we move into the 1990's. Connecticut's citizens make environmental choices in their daily activities, whether through redemption of their beverage containers, recycling o f glass, paper and cans, composting or participating in local household hazardous waste collection days. Municipalities, businesses and industries also realize their obligations in making sound environmental decisions, whether in planning for their commu nities or managing their operations. Basic ecological concepts and understanding of specific environmental regulatory requirements should be state-wide, multi-age/multi-cultural. Budget constraints have reduced the resources available for providing basi c education programs, causing increasingly program specific education efforts.

STRATEGIES:

1. Integrate formal environmental education programs into the existing State's primary and secondary school curricula.
2. Develop and provide the educational resources and outreach program activities to primary and secondary schools.
3. Provide environmental education programs to assure a knowledgeable public when they participate in the decision making process.
4. Coordinate and expand training for the diverse environmental decision-making community.
5. Encourage formal training of the local Inland Wetland Commissioners and members of the local aquifer protection agencies.
6. Encourage the support and use of natural history museums and nature centers.
7. Continue education and training programs for individuals concerning certification, licensing and permitting.
8. Provide adequate technical information and assistance to the regulated community.
9. Continue to encourage the State Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection, to develop Continuing Education Units (CEU) activities in the field of environmental education.
10. Develop and incorporate environmental ethics within environmental education systems and training.
11. Develop a centralized resources center for information about, access to, and support for environmental education and training.
12. Encourage public, private and non-profit groups to continue to develop and implement environmental education programs.
13. Encourage environmental education using multilingual and multi cultural materials on environmental health for urban populations.
14. Encourage the private sector to develop, disseminate and implement environmental policy and education/training for their managers, employees, and operators.
15. Raise general public awareness of environmental issues as a necessary part of creating demand for more in-depth information and as a significant tool for making environmentally sound decisions and actions.