Environmental Rights of Children and a General Evaluation of Environmental Education in Turkish Educational System

Abstract

Environmental pollution that started after the industrial revolution has affected not only the adults but also the children. In order to protect the children from the disquieting environmental effects, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) includes some explicit and implicit provisions (such as art. 6, 27, 28, 29). The aim of this paper is to evaluate these provisions with regards to Turkish Constitution, the Environmental Laws, and other related laws. The paper will also focus on the history and structure of CRC and also some cases, such as Öneryıldız v. Turkey, Lopez Ostra, Gabcikovo-Nagymoros, The Philippine Children’s Case, concerning the
recognition of the environmental rights of children. This paper will also refer to the Turkish Educational System in terms of environmental education. The acquisitions of environmental issues are examined in life studies, social studies, social activities, science and technology, biology and international relationships lessons of elementary and secondary education. The evaluation aimed at this paper is made under major categories in order to limit the focus of the paper.