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GenZs environmental attitudes and ecology behavior nexus: Urgent education message
Summary
Researchers examined the environmental attitudes and ecological behaviors of Generation Z high school and undergraduate students. The study suggests that environmental education in schools is critical for reducing plastic litter pollution, which the authors identify as potentially one of the most significant health challenges of the 21st century.
Environmental education in schools is critical to help decrease plastic litter pollution because plastic pollution could be the most significant health problem of the 21st century. Our research examined the environmental behaviors and attitudes of Generation Z (Gen Z) high school and undergraduate students in South Texas, USA. The research was important because we need to understand what young people believe and value if we are going to see any change in environmental behavior. Results supported research on how teachers can influence student environmental attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge with education. Feedback from students revealed significant attitude change and a rich narrative of pollution and watershed ecology knowledge and behavior themes. These themes disclosed that a holistic environmental science curriculum is necessary to connect Earth systems with the plastic litter pollution cycle.
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