To be conscious is to know, recognize, and understand what is happening in and around us. It is the emotions we feel, the reasoning we construct when faced with a situation and which helps us to make decisions. It also means distinguishing between what seems right or wrong to us and drives us to action.
Ecological awareness is therefore:
- be informed and know the impact of our actions and activities on our environment and the ecosystems around us: individually or collectively, locally and globally
- understand the physical, biological, human, and cognitive phenomena that come into play in order to anticipate changes in our environment.
- Act to protect our environment.
Ultimately, having an ecological conscience means wanting to continue to live in an environment that sustains us, and acting in this way.