Abstract:
ABSTRACT
The study sought to assess the practice of environmental citizenship behaviour
among Junior and Senior High School students in the Cape Coast Metropolis.
Environmental citizenship is a concept that suggests that every citizen is an
integral part of a larger ecosystem and that humanity’s collective future
depends on acting responsibly and positively toward our environment. It is a
sense of responsibility that leads to actions that promote environmental
conservation and sustainability. The study employed the mixed method
approach. Quantitative data was collected from 292 Senior High School
students, while qualitative data was collected from selected Junior High
School students and relevant stakeholders within the metropolis.
The study found out that the practice of Environmental Citizenship behaviour
was minimal among respondents. They were, however, predisposed in terms
of their values, beliefs, norms and knowledge which are prerequisites for
exhibiting environmental citizenship behaviours. Limited platforms such as
environmental clubs in schools and the socio-cultural perception of young
people among others, posed as challenges to young people taking
environmental actions and hence engaging in environmental activism.
It recommended that young people’s knowledge and awareness on
environmental engagements should be boosted through environmental literacy.
Environmental clubs in schools should be given a boost in order to help
nurture affinity for nature as well as promote the platform for public sphere
environmental actions; thereby promoting environmental citizenship
behaviour among young people in schools and ensure environmentally
sustainable behaviours in the Cape Coast Metropolis.
