Social Environmental Education toward Sustainable Development in the East Asian Region

Abstract

The East Asia with China and India included is the most populous region in the world and its economy is growing very fast to become the world's greatest economic center in near future. Because of the rapid economic development and the high economic density in this region, environmental stresses have built up very rapidly in recent years. The trans boundary air pollution, water shortage, drinking water poisoning, fresh water and marine pollution, deforestation, climatic disasters, and other environmental problems are becoming serious threats to the wellbeing of peoples in this densely populated region. In other word, the East Asia has not been going toward sustainable society. This is well indicated in the ESI(Environmental Sustainability Index) reported by the World Economic Forum in 2005. Most of the East Asian countries ranked the bottom: North Korea ranked 146th among 146 countries evaluated, Taiwan 145th, China 133rd, South Korea 122nd, and India 101st.