Summit emphasizes interconnectedness education, environment and economy

"Reduce, reuse, recycle" is the motto for many with a "green" conscience.

But E3 Washington has three more words to help the state's ecosystem: education, environment, economy.

At the E3 Regional Summit on Environmental Education and Economics for Yakima County, held at the end of June at the Carpenter's Union Hall in Yakima, I learned these three things are key in making Washington -- and the rest of the world -- a better place for everyone.

According to its Web site, E3 Washington is a strategy to develop a comprehensive statewide environmental education plan for everyone who lives, learns, works and plays in Washington state.

Coordinated by the Environmental Education Association of Washington, the initiative will afford us environmental knowledge that will continue for later generations. What it teaches will help environmental sustainability.

At the recent Yakima summit, the keynote speaker was Sid Morrison, a former congressman and current chairman of the executive board at Energy Northwest. He spoke of myriad environmental concerns.

Most importantly, he stressed, "The right education, including how to make informed decisions, can lead to economic and environmental sustainability."

And those exact words define E3 ideals.

One of E3's most important goals is to raise levels of environmental literacy. This year, E3 plans to deliver one statewide and 18 regional plans that identify the commitments needed at local and state levels. These plans will, with a bit of luck, reach organizations and people who can really make a difference.

Once E3 has delivered its plans, hopefully we'll see the following occur:

* Responsible environmental behavior.

* Active engagement and participation.

* Knowledge and understanding.

* Attitudes, appreciation, values, empathy, motivation to act.

* Critical or creative thinking, communication, problem-solving skills.

* Awareness of the natural and "built' environments.

The E3 summit not only explained ways to help the environment, but also shared positive results in daily life caused by a healthy environment. For example, research shows that children who play outdoors on a regular basis enjoy more advanced motor fitness, including coordination, balance and agility. Plus, they are sick less often.

Environmental literacy and sustainability is also good for the mind: "Schools with environmental education programs consistently have higher test scores on state standardized tests and have more support from parents, community and administration," according to Oksana Bartosh, author of "Environmental Education: Improving Student Achievement."

Education and helping the environment are so intertwined that it's odd I thought of them as separate things before. I know education is powerful, but coupled with environmental passion I believe it can change Washington state and beyond.

At the summit, I learned that education, environment and economy interconnect in a way I never realized before. E3 taught me a new way to look at the environment and the people in it, and it strengthened my belief that if we all pitch in we can make Washington -- and the world -- a better place to live.

* Jasmine Okbinoglu attends Eisenhower High School.

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