College Students ' Ecological Environment Moral Education From the Perspective of Ecological Civilization

Introduction

Ecology is a long-term plan for the well-being of mankind and the future of nations, representing one of the most pressing issues facing the world today. As industrialization and urbanization accelerate in the human world, the pursuit of production methods exceed the ecological balance dictated by nature. This pursuit has caused serious environmental damage, such as air pollution (including smog weather, acid rain, and the rise of global temperatures due to greenhouse gases), deforestation leading to soil erosion, debris flow, and sandstorms, as well as water pollution like red tides. These environmental concerns have triggered serious survival crises (Fesmire, 2012).

Ecological civilization emerges as a reflection amidst this social backdrop. It is new relationship between man and the natural world—a core embodiment of sustainable development and a natural behavioral shift based on the laws of nature (Prakash, 1995).

Ecology is a systematic endeavor that involves the collective efforts of and integration of all of humanity’s resources. As the backbone of socialist construction, college students assume the vital role of executors of this innovative concept. Environmental moral consciousness serves as the spiritual and ethical foundation for this new concept (Mitchell & Mueller, 2011). Genuine participation in the construction of an ecological civilization will occur only when people have a strong environmental mindset.

Carrying out environmental moral education, especially among contemporary college students, is an important method to cultivate their environmental moral awareness and practice the concept of ecological civilization (Arcury et al., 1986). As an elite cohort of socially perceptive young minds, these students can use their environmental moral values and ecological responsibilities to influence the sustainable development of an ecological civilization. Their vigor, leading-edge vision, comprehensive knowledge base, and keen social observation (Warburton, 2003) position them as future leaders across various industries post-graduation. Therefore, the implementation of ecological environment moral education in contemporary universities holds significance, fostering the promotion and adoption of ecological civilization principles across all walks of life (Caduto, 1998).

The fundamental essence of ecological civilization and ecological environment moral education align closely. Environmental moral education is an important foundation for building an ecological civilized society (Hansen & Svarverud, 2018). At its core, an ecological civilization lies in the pursuit of sustainable human development and an emphasis on the harmonious coexistence between man and nature. Similarly, the core of environmental moral education revolves around creating a conscious understanding among individuals to harmonize the relationship between man and nature through education, ultimately fostering an ecological civilization and balanced existence between man and nature (Żeber-Dzikowska et al., 2016). Therefore, there is a certain overlap between the two in their underlying concepts.

Environmental moral education initiatives support students in consciously abiding by ecological moral norms, encouraging them to fulfill responsibilities for maintaining balance and engaging in organized ecological activities. It also aims to cultivate their independent thinking abilities in dealing with human and environmental problems (Bowers, 2001). Thus, ecological moral education is a solid reserve of capable individuals, serving as the backbone for the development of an ecological civilization.

In realizing an ecological civilization, the synergy of science, technology, and effective organization stands as indispensable tools, necessitating human intervention. Education in ecological environmental principles for college students can cultivate professionals who are equipped with the necessary skills and talents. These individuals, after assuming roles across various sectors and having undergone thorough training in ideology and expertise, are of great value in promoting green development and contributing to the construction of an ecological civilization within different industries (Hu et al., 2022).