Successes and Shortfalls: A Comparison of German and American Environmental Education

Abstract

Germany and the United States have very different national policies related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, a reflection of starkly different public views on climate change. Public opinions on the environment have many influences, with primary and secondary public education being a factor in the development of environmentally friendly opinions and behaviors. The differences in each country’s approach to the environment, overall methods of environmental education, and continuing problems in climate education are investigated here through a literature search. Both Germany and the US have education systems centered on regional control, and slow change of educational standards plagues both systems. Even so, Germany has more environmental education. The US public’s greater skepticism of climate scientists creates shortfalls in both the reach and method of US environmental education.