Youth environmental attitudes in Australia and Brunei: implications for education

John Fien (), Irene Teh-Cheong Poh Ai, David Yencken, Helen Sykes and David Treagust
Additional contact information
John Fien: Griffith University
Irene Teh-Cheong Poh Ai: Griffith University
David Yencken: Griffith University
Helen Sykes: Griffith University
David Treagust: Griffith University

Environment Systems and Decisions, 2002, vol. 22, issue 3, 205-216

Abstract: Abstract This paper explores similarities and differences in the knowledge, beliefs and actions that comprise the environmental attitudes of senior secondary school students in Australia and Brunei. Utilising data from a wider international study in Asia and the Pacific (Yencken et al. , 2000), the paper uses findings from these two countries to illustrate the pervasiveness of global environmental concerns over local cultural influences in the construction of youth environmental attitudes in Australia and Brunei. Thus, young people in these countries, as they do in all parts of the Asia-Pacific region, have very similar levels of environmental awareness and knowledge, sources of environmental, beliefs, systems or world views about the environment, and levels of perceived control over environmental trends. They also have a shared desire for schools to do more in the area of environmental education. The paper concludes that much more effort needs to be made in certain areas. The first is to encourage teachers and others who have influence over young people to develop their own knowledge and skills to be able to teach environmental education effectively. The second is in the area of curriculum and pedagogical reform so that young people explore the many possible ways in which current systems can change to support sustainability, in which current lifestyles reflect these systems, and in which their own actions can contribute to a sustainable future.

Keywords: youth environmental attitudes; Australia; Brunei; environmental education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2002
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1023/A:1016571526997

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