Abstract
The implementations of sustainable development are a global trend and recently focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 Agenda. In ensuring the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda, youths play a vital role in spreading awareness, understanding, knowledge and good practices in sustainable development. Thus, this exploratory research aims to determine the level of knowledge and opinions of Malaysian youth towards sustainable development concept and issues. Furthermore, the level of knowledge and opinions of youth on sustainable development is important for their involvement in future decision-making. A survey on sustainable development concept and issues was conducted in 2015 at selected secondary schools and tertiary (higher) educational institutions in the state of Penang, Malaysia. Cluster sampling method was used whereby 50 respondents were randomly chosen from each selected place. Data were then analyzed using the software IBM SPSS Statistic version 22. The findings illustrated the presence of high level of knowledge especially on environmental dimension of sustainable development. The high level of sustainable development knowledge was reflected in youth’s opinions whereby they had positive and strong support for strengthening Malaysia’s sustainable development efforts. The findings of this study can serve as a baseline data to the sustainable development research.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ali AR (2015) Environmental awareness level amongst secondary school students in Terengganu, Malaysia based on different variables. Int J Educ Res 3(3):135–152
Aminrad Z, Zakariya SZS, Hadi A, Sakari M (2013) Relationship between awareness, knowledge and attitudes towards environmental education among secondary school students in Malaysia. World Appl Sci J 22(9):1326–1333
Arnold HE, Cohen FG, Warner A (2009) Youth and environmental action: perspectives of young environmental leaders on their formative influences. J Environ Educ 40(3):27–36
Dreamtrooper (2004) The map shows five districts of the state of Penang in Malaysia. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Districts_of_Penang2.jpg. Last accessed 5 Mar 2018
Erikson RS, Tedin KL (2015) American public opinion: its origin, content, and impact. Taylor & Francis Group, New York, NY, p 416p
Fahlquist JN (2009) Moral responsibility for environmental problems-individual or institutional? J Agric Environ Ethics 22(2):109–124
Foo KY (2013) A vision on the role of environmental higher education contributing to the sustainable development in Malaysia. J Clean Prod 61(6):6–12
Giddings B, Hopwood B, O’Brien G (2002) Environment, economy and society: fitting them together into sustainable development. Wiley InterScience 196(187):196
Harun R, Hock LM, Othman F (2011) Environmental knowledge and attitude among students in Sabah. World Appl Sci J 14(11):83–87
Helferty A, Clarke A (2009) Student-led campus climate change initiatives in Canada. Int J Sustain High Educ 10(3):287–300
Jaafar M, Noor SM, Rasoolimanesh M (2015) Perception of young local residents toward sustainable conservation programmes: a case study of the Lenggong World Cultural Heritage Site. Tour Manag 48:154–163
Jenkins KA, Jenkins BA (2005) Education for sustainable development and the question of balance: Lessons from the Pacific. Comp Gen Pharmacol 114(2):114–129
Keulen S, Spitz G, Damen M, Wedershoven ET (2015) Diversity and participation in sustainable development learning processes for youth. In Corcoran PB, Osano PM (eds) Young people, education, and sustainable development: exploring principles, perspectives, and praxist, Wageningen Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, 416p
Laurie R, Nonoyama-Tarumi N, McKeown R, Hopkins C (2016) Contributions of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to quality education: a synthesis of research. J Educ Sustain Dev 10(2):1–17
Lavega ELDE (2004) Awareness, knowledge, and attitude about environmental education: responses from environmental specialists, high school instructors, students, and parents. University of Florida, Orland, Florida, 109p
Leong LM, Nur AA, Herizal H, Mulakala A (2012) The youth factor: 2012 survey of Malaysian youth opinion. The Asia Foundtaion, 64p. https://asiafoundation.org/resources/pdfs/2012NationalYouthSurvey.pdf. Last accessed 7 Sept 2017
Malay Mail Online (2016). UPM voted Asia’s Best Green Campus, world’s top 17 in 2015. The Malay Mail Online. http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/upm-voted-asias-best-green-campus-worlds-top-17-in-2015. Last accessed 5 Mar 2018
Michalos AC, Creech H, Swayze N, Kahlke PM, Buckler C, Rempel K (2012) Measuring knowledge, attitudes and behaviours concerning sustainable development among tenth grade students in Manitoba. Soc Indic Res 106(2):213–238
Michalos AC, Kahlke PM, Rempel K, Lounatvuori A, MacDiarmid A, Creech H, Buckler C (2015) Progress in measuring knowledge, attitudes and behaviours concerning sustainable development among tenth grade students in Manitoba. Soc Indic Res 123(2):303–336
Mohammad N (2011) Environmental law and policy practices in Malaysia; an empirical study. Aust J Basic Appl Sci 5(9):1248–1260
Nyoni D (2009) Youth participation in addressing global challenges. In: Corcoran PB, Osano PM (eds) Young people, education, and sustainable development. Wageningen Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, 416p
Ogendi GM, Ong’oa I (2009) Water accessibility, use and conservation among youth: a comparative study. In: Corcoran PB, Osano PM (eds) Young people, education, and sustainable development. Wageningen Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, 461p
OpenStreetMap (2017) Map of bridge and ferry crossings of Penang Strait as of 2014. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penang_strait_crossings.svg. Last accessed 5 Mar 2018
Penang Geographic Information Centre (2019) ePeta public view. https://pegis.penang.gov.my/geoportal/home/webmap/viewer.html?useExisting=1. Last accessed 11 Mar 2019
Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang (2015) Be green, make a difference campaign. Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang. https://www.penang.gov.my/kenyataan-akhbar/3229-be-green-make-a-difference-campaign#. Last accessed 5 Mar 2018
Saadatian O, Haw LC, Hat S, Sopian K, Dalman M, Salleh E (2011) Sustainable development in Malaysia—planning and initiatives. In: Recent Researches in Chemistry, Biology, Environment and Culture, pp 138–143
Said AM, Yahaya N, Ahmadun F (2007) Environmental comprehension and participation of Malaysian secondary school students. Environ Educ Res 13(1):17–31
Sykes H, Yencken D, Fien J, Choo F (2002) Living systems, sustainability education, and institutional change. In: Yencken D, Fien J, Sykes H (eds) Environment, education and society in the Asia-Pacific: local traditions and global discourses. Routledge, London, 360p
Tavakol M, Dennick R (2011) Making sense of Cronbach’s alpha. Int J Med Edu 2:53–55
UN Women (2016) Youth must be at the centre of achieving the 2030 Agenda. http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2016/2/lakshmi-puri-speech-at-youthassembly. Last accessed 5 Mar 2018
UNESCO (2005a) UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005–2014: The DESD at a glance. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Education Sector, Paris. ED/2005/PEQ/ESD/3, p 3
UNESCO (2005b) United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2014): International implementation scheme. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Education Sector, Paris. ED/DESD/2005/PI/01, p 6
UNESCO (2015) UNESCO Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development: Information folder. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris. p 3. http://en.unesco.org/esd-repo/662/. Last accessed 5 Mar 2018
Vasi IB (2012) Public support for sustainable development: a mile wide, but how deep? Consilience J Sustain Dev 8(1):153–170
WCED (1987) Our common future. World Commission on Environment and Development. Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York, 400p
Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (2004) Taking young people seriously—consulting young people about their ideas and opinions: a handbook for organisations working with young people. Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, Melbourne, p 1. http://www.youthcoalition.org/wpcontent/uploads/Consulting+Young+People+About+Their+Ideas+and+Opinions.pdf. Last accessed 5 Mar 2018
Zareie B, Navimipour NJ (2016) The impact of electronic environmental knowledge on the environmental behaviours of people. Comput Hum Behav 59:1–8
Acknowledgements
This research is made possible by the support of the Universiti Sains Malaysia Research University (Individual) Grant number 1001.PCGSS.816265.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ariffin, F.N., Ng, T.F., Ghazali, M. (2020). Knowledge and Opinions Amongst Youths in Secondary and Tertiary Education on Sustainable Development in Penang, Malaysia. In: Leal Filho, W., et al. Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_32
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_32
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-15603-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-15604-6
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)