The findings arrive at a critical time as climate change, environmental degradation, pollution, and resource depletion continue to challenge governments, educational institutions, and communities worldwide. The study highlights the importance of environmental education not only for increasing awareness but also for translating knowledge into meaningful action.
Why Environmental Literacy Matters
Across the globe, educators and policymakers are searching for effective ways to prepare younger generations for sustainability challenges. While many students understand environmental issues, knowledge alone does not always lead to behavioral change.
The research from Universitas Negeri Jakarta suggests that the missing link is often sustainable competence—the ability to apply environmental knowledge through critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, collaboration, and practical action.
According to the authors, environmental literacy provides the foundation, but sustainable competence enables individuals to transform awareness into real-world behavior.
As environmental challenges become increasingly complex, educational systems are being encouraged to move beyond traditional knowledge-based learning and focus on developing practical sustainability skills.
How the Study Was Conducted
The researchers surveyed 340 students using a structured questionnaire designed to measure three key variables:
- Environmental literacy
- Sustainable competence
- Environmentally friendly behavior
Participants responded to a series of statements using a five-point scale. The research team then analyzed the responses using statistical modeling to identify relationships among the three variables.
The study examined whether environmental literacy directly influences environmentally friendly behavior and whether sustainable competence acts as a bridge between environmental understanding and environmental action.
Key Findings
The results revealed consistently high scores across all three areas studied.
Average scores included:
- Environmental Literacy: 4.18 out of 5
- Sustainable Competence: 4.12 out of 5
- Environmentally Friendly Behavior: 4.20 out of 5
Students generally demonstrated strong environmental awareness and positive sustainability-related attitudes.
More importantly, the statistical analysis revealed significant relationships among the variables.
Major Results
- Environmental literacy strongly increased sustainable competence (β = 0.81).
- Environmental literacy directly improved environmentally friendly behavior (β = 0.32).
- Sustainable competence strongly increased environmentally friendly behavior (β = 0.64).
- Sustainable competence partially mediated the relationship between environmental literacy and environmentally friendly behavior.
The findings indicate that environmental literacy influences behavior both directly and indirectly through the development of sustainability competencies.
In practical terms, students who understand environmental issues are more likely to engage in environmentally responsible actions when they also possess the skills needed to evaluate problems, make informed decisions, and implement sustainable solutions.
Strong Environmental Attitudes Among Students
Among the dimensions of environmental literacy, environmental attitude received the highest score, averaging 4.30 out of 5.
Within sustainable competence, action competence emerged as the strongest dimension, with a score of 4.20, indicating that many students feel prepared to take concrete actions that support sustainability.
For environmentally friendly behavior, environmental concern recorded the highest score at 4.28, reflecting a strong commitment to environmental protection among respondents.
The study also identified areas for improvement.
Critical thinking skills, collaboration, and participation in environmental activities received comparatively lower scores, although they remained within the high category. These findings suggest that educational programs could further strengthen students’ active involvement in environmental initiatives and collaborative sustainability projects.
Implications for Education and Public Policy
The research offers valuable insights for schools, universities, and policymakers seeking to promote sustainability.
The findings suggest that environmental education should not focus exclusively on delivering information about climate change, conservation, or pollution. Instead, educational institutions should also cultivate competencies that help students apply their knowledge in real-world situations.
Programs that encourage problem-solving, teamwork, community engagement, and environmental action may be particularly effective in building long-term sustainable behavior.
The study further indicates that sustainability-oriented education can contribute to broader environmental goals by preparing future citizens who are capable of making environmentally responsible decisions in their personal and professional lives.
For policymakers, the research provides evidence that investments in environmental literacy programs can generate measurable behavioral outcomes when accompanied by competency-based learning approaches.
Insight from the Authors
The findings from G. Aris Wulantoro, Tuty Sariwulan, and Hania Aminah of Universitas Negeri Jakarta suggest that environmental literacy alone is not sufficient to maximize pro-environmental behavior.
Their analysis indicates that sustainable competence serves as a critical mechanism connecting environmental understanding with practical environmental action. In other words, students become more environmentally responsible when knowledge is reinforced by the ability to think critically, solve problems, collaborate with others, and implement sustainability principles in everyday life.
Author Profiles
G. Aris Wulantoro is a researcher affiliated with Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ) whose academic interests include environmental literacy, sustainability education, and environmental behavior.
Dr. Tuty Sariwulan is a lecturer and researcher at Universitas Negeri Jakarta, specializing in education, human resource development, and sustainability studies.
Hania Aminah is an academic at Universitas Negeri Jakarta whose research focuses on education, social behavior, and sustainable development issues.
Source
Article Title: Environmental Literacy as a Catalyst for Enhancing Students’ Sustainable Competence and Pro-Environmental Behavior
Authors: G. Aris Wulantoro, Tuty Sariwulan, Hania Aminah
Journal: Formosa Journal of Business and Economic Statistics (FJBES)
Publication Year: 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/fjbes.v2i3.644
URL: https://mtiformosapublisher.org/index.php/fjbes
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