THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF URBAN SOLID WASTE

Abstract

Environmental Education is a fundamental element in the formation of conscious citizens committed to environmental preservation and sustainable development. This study focuses on the importance of integrating Environmental Education into different stages of basic education, especially in Elementary and High School. It is a descriptive study with a bibliographic approach, whose objective is to highlight the relevance of Environmental Education within the school context, contributing to the development of a society that is more aware of environmental issues, such as the excessive generation of urban waste. The methodology is based on the analysis of documents, legislation, and theoretical references related to the theme, including international and national milestones such as the Intergovernmental Conference on Environmental Education held in Tbilisi in 1977, promoted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in partnership with UNESCO, as well as the Brazilian Federal Constitution and Law No. 9,795/1999, which established the National Environmental Education Policy. The results indicate that the inclusion of Environmental Education in the school environment contributes to the development of students’ critical awareness regarding environmental issues. It is concluded that addressing this topic in basic education is essential to form more responsible individuals who are better prepared to face the environmental challenges of contemporary society.