Edward Elgar Publishing Environmental Education in China

Product Description China's environmental problems increasingly attract global attention, yet critics often overlook the sizable efforts of the Chinese people and government to change attitudes and behavior, in order to improve environmental outcomes. This much-needed book provides a comprehensive introduction to environmental education in China. After consideration of the environment in Chinese philosophy, the authors focus on application of directives and new guidelines to compulsory, secondary and college education, and also analyze the way in which teachers are trained. They then examine conditioning factors, such as the media and NGOs, as well as the variation of education within China, and attempt to measure the efficacy of environmental education over time. Review 'The combined expertise of the McBeaths and their two associates is truly impressive: academic careers in science and politics and substantial work concerning the environment in China. This expertise is well integrated in this excellent analysis of environmental education in China. The depth of detail in the book is extraordinary for a discussion of Chinese public policy; the interpretations and conclusion are sophisticated and convincing; and there are several thoughtful policy recommendations as well.' --- Cal Clark, Auburn University, US 'Facing severe environmental deterioration for several decades, it is no surprise that China pays attention to environmental education as part of its mitigation strategies. This volume provides a useful overview of the development, state of the art and diversity of China s system of environmental education. Most interestingly, it details the similarities and differences with Western environmental education developments, both within and outside formal schools and universities.' --- Arthur Mol, Wageningen University, the Netherlands About the Author Gerald A. McBeath, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, Jenifer Huang McBeath, Professor of Plant Pathology and Biotechnology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, US, with Tian Qing and Huang Yu, Beijing Normal University, China