'Teach children how to use natural resources'

AHMEDABAD: School students should be taught how to use natural resources so that they don't run out, Ahmedabad-based Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC) said here on Wednesday.

CERC called on the government to implement the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) guidelines on 'Education for Sustainable Consumption in Formal Education'. 

"The coordinated day of action has been organised by the global consumer movement as a means of empowering consumers to make responsible decisions from a young age," said Pritee Shah, senior director-CERC and editor of CERC-run Insight magazine.

"Educating the young generation and pushing them into action is the challenge before us today. All-round effort needs to be made to prepare education material that would appeal to this generation, and should be easily accessible. We at CERC together with GTZ (a German technical cooperation agency) are developing fun-to-read booklets, animation films and posters for the young. We hope this material make them think and act," Shah said.

UNEP has outlined crucial social development and environmental aspects in its Education for Sustainable Consumption programme.