Environmental Literacy as a Catalyst for Civic Engagement and Climate Action Among University Students: A Cross-National Inquiry

• In Event: Emotions, identities, and engagement in climate change education

Abstract

This study investigates how environmental literacy (EL)—encompassing knowledge, biospheric values, and behavior—shapes civic engagement in climate action among university students across six countries. Drawing from critical environmental education and political psychology, the research combines survey data (N = 792) and focus groups to examine links between EL, environmental self-efficacy, and activism. Findings reveal that values and past behaviors are stronger predictors of engagement than knowledge alone. Cross-national comparisons show cultural variation in EL profiles, with Portugal and Poland leading. Students emphasized participatory, value-based education as essential to agency and democratic trust. Results informed a MOOC currently in pilot testing, aimed at fostering environmental responsibility and civic participation. EL emerges as both an educational goal and a democratic safeguard.

Authors

• Marika Rullo, university of siena

• Erica Molinario, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Giovanni Telesca, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

• Claudio Melacarne, University of Siena

• Claudia Banchetti, Università di Siena