CONTROVERSIAL ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS AND THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE: DISCUSSING GLOBAL WARMING IN THE CLASSROOM

• Autor(a) principal: Barbieri, José Carlos
• Data de Publicação: 2013
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Administração (São Paulo. Online)
• Texto Completo: https://raep.emnuvens.com.br/raep/article/view/60
• topic: environmental education; scientific; educação ambiental; incerteza científica; aquecimento global; ceticismo; princípio da precaução; princípio da prevenção

Debates over environmental issues are becoming more intense due to the severity of the environmental problems and scientific uncertainties that accompanies them. Classrooms are a natural stage for debates and teachers are constantly challenged to provide answers about controversial issues involving scientific expertise, often in areas other than those in which the teacher engages. This article aims to present an instrument of environmental policy to participate in discussions and present proposals with only superficial information on the core issues of the problem under discussion. A controversial problem of global dimensions, global climate change, will be presented first. This is a subject in which specialized scientists from climate science areas and sub-areas disagree regarding a variety of aspects, including whether or not such change is taking place. This is followed by a proposal to take part in the debate, despite lacking expertise on the subject and without having to choose sides. The proposal is based on the precautionary principle and, while also a controversial subject, is much closer to the areas familiar to Business Administration professors than applied social sciences. This is a central issue in environmental education, due to being a renowned way of dealing with environmental issues involving scientific uncertainties.