Exploring Anthropocentrism vs. Ecocentrism in Ubuntu in Relation to Environmental Education for Climate Change (Poster 2)

• In Event: Mapping the Terrain of Climate Change Education: Exploring Politics, Policy, Practice, and Perspectives

Abstract

This study centers on the anthropocentrism vs. ecocentrism debate around Ubuntu and explores the implications of Ubuntu to environmental education for climate change by reexamining existing ways of applying Ubuntu and soliciting insights from environmental activists from Africa who hold knowledge of Ubuntu. Based on the results from reviewing prior studies connecting Ubuntu to environmental education and interviewing African environmental activists, we offer implications from Ubuntu on environmental education. We argue Ubuntu has great potential to go beyond the monolithic view of addressing issues of nature and climate change from an anthropocentric perspective. The anthropocentric and ecocentric aspects within Ubuntu are interwoven with each other and bring transformative ideas to environmental education for climate change hand in hand.

Authors

• Wuqi Yu, University of Maryland

• Pascal Pax Andebo, University of Maryland