ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: IMPACTS, STRATEGIES, AND THE ROLE OF FUNDING – A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/arev8n3-132Keywords:
Environmental Education, Financing, Social Participation, SustainabilityAbstract
Environmental Education (EE) is an essential tool for building sustainable societies, with children and adolescents acting as agents of change. This systematic literature review aimed to analyze the impacts, strategies, and role of funding in EE initiatives targeting this population. The method consisted of searching and analyzing scientific articles published between 2021 and 2025 in the Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO databases, resulting in the inclusion of 21 studies for qualitative synthesis. The findings were organized into four thematic categories: (1) Youth participation and co-production, highlighting the protagonism of young people in shaping narratives and policies; (2) Environmental attitude, knowledge, and behavior, highlighting the influence of diverse pedagogical methodologies; (3) Practical environmental education and participatory programs, which strengthen skills and civic engagement; and (4) Funding and resources, whose availability is important for the effectiveness and sustainability of the programs. It was concluded that environmental education is effective in promoting sustainable attitudes and behaviors, but its success is linked to the integration of participatory approaches, sensitivity to the sociocultural context, and, above all, the existence of adequate funding and consistent public policies. The study reinforced the need for continuous investment and articulated strategies to consolidate environmental education as a central axis for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 (Quality Education), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action).
Downloads
References
BARDIN, Laurence. Análise de conteúdo. Lisboa: Edições 70, 2016.
BARNASON, Sarah et al. Environmental action programs using positive youth development may increase civic engagement. Sustainability, v. 14, n. 11, p. 1-15, 2022.
BOROJEVIĆ, Tamara et al. Youth participation for sustainable value creation: The role and prioritization of SDGs. Sustainability, v. 15, n. 23, p. 1-18, 2023.
BOWMAN, Benjamin; GERMAINE, Chloe. Sustaining the old world, or imagining a new one? The transformative literacies of the climate strikes. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, v. 38, n. 1, p. 70-84, 2022.
CHOU, David T. et al. Climate awareness, anxiety, and actions among youth: a qualitative study in a middle-income country. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, v. 45, n. 3, p. 258-267, 2023.
DLIMBETOVA, Gulnara et al. The effectiveness of socio-economic mechanisms in environmental education of young people in Kazakhstan. Economic Annals XXI, v. 203, n. 5-6, p. 59-69, 2023.
FIGUEIROA-REGO, Maria José. Educational philosophy and environmental education. Journal of Agricultural, Earth & Environmental Sciences, v. 4, n. 2, p. 1-4, 2025.
HARTLEY, Jessica M. et al. Intergenerational learning: a recommendation for engaging youth to address marine debris challenges. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 170, p. 1-10, 2021.
KŐVÁRI, Edit; FORMÁDI, Kinga; BANÁSZ, Zoltán. The green attitude of four european capitals of culture's youth. Sustainability, v. 15, n. 10, p. 1-15, 2023.
LINS, Natana da Silva; ARAÚJO, Aracy Alves de. The environmental perception of Youth and Adult Education students about the use and disposal of chemical products in the household environment. Ciência & Educação, v. 29, p. 1-20, 2023.
MA, Lin et al. Exploring the moderating role of environmental education in promoting a clean environment. Sustainability, v. 15, n. 10, p. 1-16, 2023.
MURRAY, Liz et al. How does learning about the future of the ocean impact children's emotional wellbeing? Insights from ocean literacy educators in Aotearoa New Zealand. People and Nature, v. 5, n. 5, p. 1622-1635, 2023.
NOURREDINE, Hajar et al. Linking urban water management, wastewater recycling, and environmental education: a case study on engaging youth in sustainable water resource management in a Public School in Casablanca City, Morocco. Education Sciences, v. 13, n. 8, p. 824, 2023.
PORTUS, Ruth et al. Reflections on co-productive research in a youth-focused climate education project. Geographical Research, v. 63, n. 1, p. 118-133, 2025.
RICCI, Kaitlin et al. Engaging youth in biodiversity education through visual narrative. Conservation Biology, v. 38, n. 6, p. 1-12, 2024.
RICCI, Liana et al. Urban biodiversity education through participatory workshops. In: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, 7., 2025, Berlin. [Anais...]. Berlin: ICEEL, 2025. p. 1-15.
RUIZ-MALLÉN, Isabel et al. Community climate resilience and environmental education: opportunities and challenges for transformative learning. Environmental Education Research, v. 28, n. 7, p. 1088-1107, 2022.
TROTT, Carlie D. Rewriting the climate story with young climate justice activists. Geographical Research, v. 63, n. 1, p. 134-152, 2025.
TROTT, Carlie D. et al. Civic science education for youth-driven water security: a behavioral development approach to strengthening climate resilience. International Journal of Behavioral Development, v. 48, n. 2, p. 145-155, 2024.
WELLMAN, R. L. et al. Assessment of a youth climate empowerment program: climate READY. Geoscience Communications, v. 8, p. 1-46, 2025.
