Küchler Environmental Literacy and the Teaching of English

1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-3-8233-0536-1
Verlag: Narr Francke Attempto Verlag
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 216 Seiten

Reihe: narr STUDIENBÜCHER LITERATUR- UND KULTURWISSENSCHAFT

How can foreign language education be the spark that ignites environmental awareness and sustainability? This book offers a humanities approach to this topic, highlighting the potential of language, literature, culture, and media communication to enrich environmental discussions. It examines foreign language education and explores related fields, such as environmental humanities, environmental education, and education for sustainable development. It also investigates ecolinguistics, ecocriticism, and cultural ecology. The book presents a framework for environmental literacy in foreign language teaching, providing a unique perspective on the role of foreign language education in promoting sustainability, environmental awareness, and critical thinking, ultimately nurturing more hopeful paths for a sustainable future.

Prof. Dr. Uwe Küchler ist Inhaber des Lehrstuhls für die Didaktik des Englischen an der Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen und Mitglied der Tübingen School of Education (TüSE).

Autoren/Hrsg.

Küchler, Uwe

Leseproben

2.1 A Humanities Perspective on the Ecological Situation

The current state of the planet and the environmental situation on all continents and in many regions is usually described with a sense of urgency and impending doom. This sense of urgency leads to a growing interest in the concept of resilience, which is occasionally used to process catastrophic situations. Resilience refers to the ability of individuals or systems to respond flexibly to changing circumstances and adapt to new conditions (Höhler 2016: 261). The term, borrowed from the Latin word (to rebound, to spring back), was used in psychology to describe coping mechanisms after post-traumatic stress. Since the 1970s, resilience has also been used in ecological contexts to describe adaptations to ecological disturbances: How can ecological disasters be met with a mindset of transformation, creative growth, and innovation? However, the concept of resilience can also be problematic, as it may leave the impression of absolving humanity of its responsibility for environmental damage and, instead, positively framing harm as an opportunity for creative intervention. Additionally, it may exacerbate existing inequalities rather than mitigate them, as the benefits of resilience may not be evenly distributed, and some individuals or groups may be left more vulnerable than others (265).

The past two centuries have seen unprecedented economic growth and technological progress, driven by innovations that have transformed industries, mobility, urbanization, and digitalization. However, this progress has not altered humanity’s destructive trajectory. It seems unlikely that new economic models will help to mitigate the damage or chart a more sustainable course (Ehrlich 1969; Meadows et al. 1972, 2004; IPCC 2021, 2022). Despite alarming scientific findings, societal transformation has been slow. While new technologies and political awareness have emerged, the pace of change is insufficient to address environmental challenges. Notable advancements in renewable energy and sustainable technologies are often offset by the rebound effect, where gains in one area are counterbalanced by increased degradation in another (Herring 2008). For example, energy efficiency gains are undermined by increased energy consumption from mobile technologies, streaming services, or chatbots. The steadily advancing Earth Overshoot Day, which marks the point when humanity’s consumption exceeds the planet’s regenerative capacity, illustrates this trend. Since 1971, this day has shifted from late December to July 24th in 2025, indicating an alarming increase in resource usage (“Earth Overshoot Day”). Country Overshoot Days show even starker disparities: For 2025, the United States reached its threshold on March 13th and Germany on May 3rd, both faring significantly earlier than the global average (Global Footprint Network 2025). To effectively address the environmental crisis, alternative approaches must be explored, particularly in the humanities, as relying solely on economic and political pressure is insufficient.

In recent years, environmental issues, particularly climate change, have become increasingly prominent in media, politics, science, and the humanities. Similar to other phenomena that require profound transformations, environmental concerns have historically been met with strategies of denial, minimization, or ridicule, which aim to downplay or dismiss their significance and the need for far-reaching changes. (Stern 2007, 2015) assesses the economic implications of climate change, concluding that it poses significant hazards and risks to societies and economies worldwide. The report unequivocally states that climate change is a pressing reality, describing it as “the greatest and widest-ranging market failure ever seen” (Stern 2007: 1). The review examines the impact of global environmental changes on economic development, including social costs related to food security, water availability, ecosystem disruption, extreme weather events, and rapid climate changes. emphasizes the urgent need for swift and decisive action from all sectors of society to mitigate climate change. It highlights that immediate political and economic responses will be less costly than delayed actions, which will lead to more severe climate change damages (Stern 2007). Despite this, a wait-and-see approach has persisted, maximizing costs for global economies. Nicholas Stern’s updated comments reinforce the urgency of the issue, warning that climate change is unfolding faster than expected (Stern 2012: 2015). He advocates for innovative, creative, and climate-sensitive progress to avoid future ecological and social upheavals. highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on the poorest countries and people, emphasizing the need for social and environmental justice (Stern 2007: 7). The uneven distribution of climate impacts and the delayed perception of their effects make behavioral changes and policy implementation challenging. Therefore, governments must promote education and awareness efforts to drive social change and mitigate the effects of climate change.

More influence and attention are conferred on the regular environmental assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC is a UN-backed scientific committee that provides comprehensive reports on global climate change. Founded in 1988 by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the IPCC assesses scientific data and findings on climate change, its impacts, and mitigation strategies. Its purpose is to provide a scientifically sound foundation for political decision-makers, drawing on the expertise of thousands of volunteer scientists from a broad range of disciplines, including natural sciences, social studies, and technologies. The IPCC’s Assessment Reports are a key resource for policymakers, offering a comprehensive overview of the latest research and knowledge on climate change (IPCC 2022). The IPCC publishes comprehensive assessment reports at irregular intervals, with six reports released to date in 1990, 1995, 2001, 2007, 2013/14, and 2022. The most recent report, (IPCC 2022), provides a thorough overview of climate change trends, impacts, and required adaptations, supported by scientific data and case studies. The report’s findings were particularly striking, with scientists concluding that current climate changes are unprecedented in millennia and unlikely to be reversed for an equally long period (IPCC 2022: 9). The IPCC’s climate reports and press releases generate significant media attention, but the resulting political momentum is often short-lived, with public interest and debate waning quickly. Despite this, the IPCC’s work has been subject to intense scrutiny and criticism from political opponents, including the fossil fuel industry and other vested interests. The Global Climate Coalition, a think tank funded by major oil and automotive companies, has been a notable example of efforts to discredit and undermine climate research and the IPCC’s findings.

The escalating severity of extreme weather events, from record-breaking heat to devastating floods and fires, underscores the stark reality of climate change. The IPCC’s warning that current catastrophes represent a best-case scenario, with worse to come, has sparked global controversy and attention. However, this attention is short-lived, and the resulting debates often get lost in political rhetoric. Nevertheless, the imminent threats and catastrophes have led to a re-examination of the human relationship with the environment, with emotions, attitudes, and situations being reflected in popular culture. The existential vulnerability posed by environmental changes has secured a permanent media presence and fuels an alarmist atmosphere with reproachful accusations and blame.

2.1.1 Uneasy Anniversaries

Most environmental challenges, political initiatives, or behavioral advice are not new. Only the increasing frequency and extent of ecological anomalies are notable and ever surprising. Despite decades of awareness and although some progress has been made, international politics has been slow to act. Recalling a few anniversaries of significant historical moments puts into perspective the complexity and the pace of progress on environmental issues, which some might argue has still been insufficient:

• It has been more than 60 years since Rachel Carson’s seminal book (1962) sparked the US-American environmental protection movement and galvanized international efforts. The book exposes the environmental impact of pesticides and pollution. It makes this knowledge accessible to a broad audience (Carson 1962; see also Grober 2010: 30ff.).

• More than 50 years ago, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm (1972) laid the groundwork for global environmental politics. The resulting United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has since developed initiatives contributing to the evolution of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and the Global Sustainability Goals (UNEP 1972; see Chapter 4.6). The subsequent conferences in Rio de Janeiro (1992) and Rio+20 (2012), as well as the influential Paris Agreement from 2015, built upon previous efforts to address environmental...