Consumer education : a meaningful approach to creating environmental awareness and social responsibility towards a sustainable lifestyle


Citation

Thilla Chelliah, . (1997) Consumer education : a meaningful approach to creating environmental awareness and social responsibility towards a sustainable lifestyle. [Proceedings Paper]

Abstract

Recognising the importance and need for information and awareness in environmental issues attempts are made by many organisations both governmental and non governmental to initiate programs in environmental education for various target groups. Implemented in a variety of ways these programs are designed to suite the needs and interest of the participants. However one of the weakness of the environmental education activities has been its difficulty to convince relevance to illustrate meaningfully how the environmental knowledge relates to the lives and consumption patterns of the participants. Difficulty in comprehending the relevance of environmental information has created problems in understanding the need to observe sustainable lifestyle. A meaningful approach to realise the relationship between environmental concerns and sustainable lifestyle is through consumer education. Basically consumers use goods and services which are obtained from environmental resources. Therefore the wise use of environmental resources will ensure the availability of goods and services at an affordable and sustained rate. Secondly one of the eight rights of a consumer which is accepted internationally is the Right to healthy and clean environment. Knowing that this is their basic right consumer can be encouraged to participate in programs to ensure a healthy and clean environment sustainable use. Based on these guiding principles the consumer association has initiated programs for both youth and adults. This paper will discuss in detail the inter relationship between environmental issues consumption patterns and the consumer and highlight some of programs that has been successfully implemented to address these issues.


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Abstract

Recognising the importance and need for information and awareness in environmental issues attempts are made by many organisations both governmental and non governmental to initiate programs in environmental education for various target groups. Implemented in a variety of ways these programs are designed to suite the needs and interest of the participants. However one of the weakness of the environmental education activities has been its difficulty to convince relevance to illustrate meaningfully how the environmental knowledge relates to the lives and consumption patterns of the participants. Difficulty in comprehending the relevance of environmental information has created problems in understanding the need to observe sustainable lifestyle. A meaningful approach to realise the relationship between environmental concerns and sustainable lifestyle is through consumer education. Basically consumers use goods and services which are obtained from environmental resources. Therefore the wise use of environmental resources will ensure the availability of goods and services at an affordable and sustained rate. Secondly one of the eight rights of a consumer which is accepted internationally is the Right to healthy and clean environment. Knowing that this is their basic right consumer can be encouraged to participate in programs to ensure a healthy and clean environment sustainable use. Based on these guiding principles the consumer association has initiated programs for both youth and adults. This paper will discuss in detail the inter relationship between environmental issues consumption patterns and the consumer and highlight some of programs that has been successfully implemented to address these issues.

Additional Metadata

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Item Type: Proceedings Paper
Additional Information: Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia. GE90 M3N271 1997 Call Number
AGROVOC Term: ENVIRONMENT
AGROVOC Term: ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
AGROVOC Term: CONSUMER EDUCATION
AGROVOC Term: CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR
AGROVOC Term: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGROVOC Term: NATURE CONSERVATION
AGROVOC Term: EDUCATION
AGROVOC Term: MALAYSIA
Geographical Term: MALAYSIA
Depositing User: Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified: 24 Apr 2025 05:27
URI: http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16123

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