eco-literacy
Knowing nature's systems
Eco-literacy is understanding how ecological systems work and how human activity affects them.
The term frames environmental knowledge as a basic competency, like reading or math—something everyone should possess: Schools are incorporating eco-literacy into their curricula.
An eco-literate person grasps concepts like biodiversity, carbon cycles, and sustainability well enough to make informed choices.
Study of atmospheric patterns
- water cycleContinuous planetary moisture movement
- food websLinked predator-prey relationships
- environmental scienceStudy of nature-human interactions
- carrying capacityPopulation an environment sustains
succession · symbiosis · adaptation · resilience · conservation biology · soil health · pollination · decomposition
Decomposing organic matter deliberately
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
- energy conservationUnchanging total in closed systems
- waste reductionDecreasing material for disposal
- sustainable gardeningEarth-conscious plant cultivation
water conservation · native planting · upcycling · rainwater harvesting · organic growing · energy monitoring · food preservation · foraging
Environmentally sustainable educational institutions
- outdoor learningInstruction in natural settings
- earth scienceStudy of planetary systems
- environmental studiesAcademic field on human-nature interaction
- nature journalingRecording observations of wilderness
Promoting ecological causes
- climate actionMeasures addressing atmospheric change
- grassroots organizingLocal citizen-led collective action
- eco-justiceFairness in environmental burdens
- environmental stewardshipResponsible management of nature
youth movements · divestment · protest · petition · lobbying · environmental rights · indigenous knowledge · collective responsibility
climate science
Study of atmospheric patterns
- water cycleContinuous planetary moisture movement
- food websLinked predator-prey relationships
- environmental scienceStudy of nature-human interactions
carrying capacity · succession · symbiosis · adaptation · resilience · conservation biology · soil health · pollination · decomposition
composting
Decomposing organic matter deliberately
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
- energy conservationUnchanging total in closed systems
- waste reductionDecreasing material for disposal
sustainable gardening · water conservation · native planting · upcycling · rainwater harvesting · organic growing · energy monitoring · food preservation · foraging · seed saving
green schools
Environmentally sustainable educational institutions
- outdoor learningInstruction in natural settings
- earth scienceStudy of planetary systems
- environmental studiesAcademic field on human-nature interaction
nature journaling · forest schools · environmental awareness · systems thinking
environmental advocacy
Promoting ecological causes
- climate actionMeasures addressing atmospheric change
- grassroots organizingLocal citizen-led collective action
- eco-justiceFairness in environmental burdens
environmental stewardship · youth movements · divestment · protest · petition · lobbying · environmental rights · indigenous knowledge · collective responsibility
eco-literacyanti-environmentalism
Opposition to ecological protection
anthropocentrism · consumerism · climate denial · industrialism · short-termism
literate, literacy, ecology, ecological, ecosystem, illiteracy