Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior: Drivers of Sustainability Awareness among School Students

This study investigates the factors influencing environmental sustainability by examining the roles of environmental knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and awareness.Although these variables have been widely studied in global contexts, limited research addresses how they manifest among Indonesian students.This study fills that gap by focusing on 409 ninth-grade students from middle schools in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, and Solok City, West Sumatra, Indonesia.A quantitative approach using survey questionnaires was employed to measure students' environmental knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and sustainability awareness.Results showed that environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors significantly influenced sustainability awareness, with standardized coefficients of 0.35, 0.42, and 0.28, respectively (p < 0.001 for all).Among these, environmental attitude had the most substantial impact.These findings highlight the need for a multidimensional approach to environmental education that integrates cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components.By focusing on a regional context often underrepresented in sustainability research, this study contributes to a deeper, culturally grounded understanding of how young learners in Indonesia engage with environmental issues.It offers valuable insights for educators and policymakers in designing curricula and interventions that not only build knowledge but also nurture positive attitudes and sustainable behaviors among students.