Civic engagement is crucial for enhancing society's quality of life and promoting justice, addressing issues like homelessness, pollution, climate change, food insecurity, and race/gender inequality, and can be achieved through land use planning.
Fremont, CA: If you are the type of person who believes one should take every opportunity they have to help each other and the environment, then you are already applying the basic principles of civic engagement, whether you realize it or not.
Certainly, civic engagement is a crucial part of society for a wide range of reasons. As a matter of fact, there are core societal issues that can benefit from civic engagement.
What Is Civic Engagement?
Civic engagement involves people coming together to help improve the overall quality of life for everyone who works and lives in a community.
Why is Civic Engagement Important?
Generally speaking, Civic engagement is vital for creating a just society by uniting individuals with similar values, promoting constructive change, and shaping the future of communities and countries.
Societal Issues That Can Benefit from Civic Engagement
Civic engagement can tackle various societal issues and offer career prospects for individuals to make a positive impact on the world. Some examples of societal problems that can be addressed through civic engagement deserve further exploration.
Pollution
Million tons of plastic waste is in the oceans, causing water shortages, increased illness, and hindering global food production. Environmental scientists, as leaders in science, can help address pollution by finding solutions and promoting civic engagement to prevent further issues from developing.
Climate Change
Climate change is a global issue causing severe impacts, especially on developing nations and those in poverty. It leads to water scarcity, rising temperatures, flooding, and storm damage, impacting about half of the world's population. Pursuing a master's degree in biological sciences can help combat climate change.
Food Insecurity
Food insecurity, a result of poverty, unemployment, low wages, high prices, and limited access, can lead to health issues like malnutrition and chronic diseases. Food scientists can combat this by developing sustainable production methods like vertical farming and hydroponics.
Race & Gender Inequality
The study reveals that white men outperform black, Hispanic, and all-women, highlighting the need for civic engagement and urban and regional planners to develop land use plans and programs to support population growth and ensure equal opportunities.
