About
Increasing Environmental Literacy
The NC Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs in the NC Department of Environmental Quality was established to improve environmental literacy, stewardship of natural resources and environmental justice in North Carolina.
Mission
The N.C. Office of Environmental Education encourages, supports and promotes environmental education programs, facilities and resources and equips educators with the skills and knowledge to improve environmental literacy, stewardship of natural resources and environmental justice in North Carolina.
Why Environmental Education?
In the classroom and beyond, the desired outcome of environmental education is environmental literacy. People who are environmentally literate understand how natural systems function and how humans and the environment are intertwined. To that end, environmental education strives to provide learners with sound scientific information and the vital skills of problem solving, critical thinking and decision-making. At one time or another, individuals will be compelled to address and solve complex environmental problems affecting the economy, public health or shared natural resources. Environmental education provides the necessary tools.