The environmental situation in Indonesia is severe and includes pollution, deforestation, and waste. Can we make a change?
The state of the environmental situation today is concerning. A few concrete examples of ecological harm brought on by human activity are climate change, deforestation, pollution of the air and water, and biodiversity loss. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry reports that Indonesia generates tens of millions of tons of trash annually, the most of which is improperly managed.
Weak collective awareness and little behavioral change on a large social scale are contributing factors to this dilemma. Environmental deterioration is being accelerated by unsustainable consumption habits, rapid urbanization, and a lack of application of sustainable development concepts. In actuality, the cornerstone of building a good, safe, and healthy existence is environmental sustainability. In order to safeguard the planet’s future, all facets of society including the younger generation, scholars, and policymakers must actively participate in developing solutions based on knowledge, social consciousness, and moral obligation.
Student’s Contribution to Environmental Awareness
Students are frequently portrayed as moral leaders and change agents who will shape the country’s future, especially in the area of the environment. Primaditya & Kurniawan (2023) claim that pupils’ ecological literacy has a big impact on how concerned they are about the environment. This implies that students are more inclined to take action to protect the environment the better they understand it.
Additionally, campus environmental communities and student organizations like Mapala are crucial in establishing the values of environmental stewardship. Among the tactics employed include conservation-based labor programs, environmental education, exemplary conduct, and fostering solidarity. In addition to academic understanding, students are encouraged to embed ecological ideals in their daily lives.
Current Issues
Despite their critical role, students’ social knowledge of environmental concerns is still very low, according to reality. Among the primary issues encountered are:
- Why Student’s lack of interest in and involvement in environmental concerns, both on and off campus.
- Environmental education is not systematically included into university curricula.
- Reliance on consumer culture without understanding its ecological consequences, such as the usage of single-use plastic.
- Campus amenities that do not yet encourage eco-friendly behavior, such the absence of distinct garbage cans and green spaces.
The majority of the activities, however, are still accidental and have not developed into a culture that is ingrained in students generally, despite the efforts of the nature-loving student group (Mapala).
Creating a Caring Movement on Campus
Several cooperative and sustainable strategic actions are required to raise students’ social awareness of the environment:
- Include environmental education in the curriculum as a component of citizenship and character education. Environmental concerns must be covered in college curricula as a component of social responsibility and character development. In this manner, students are inspired to actively participate in environmental conservation through both academic and practical methods, in addition to understanding the theory.
- Supporting student environmental groups like Himapala by focusing on character development via practical exercises like water conservation, tree planting, and 3R waste management (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). Encouraging student organizations to take the lead in campus environmental initiatives is necessary. Students’ leadership, concern, and active engagement in environmental concerns may be developed through these hands-on learning activities.
- Innovative digital initiatives that use social media to spread knowledge and encourage students to join the Environmental Care Movement. Students may make environmental concerns widely known by using the power of digital media. Thematic webinars, online challenges, and visual content campaigns may all be useful tools for motivating and educating peers.
- Cooperation on community-based environmental initiatives among NGOs, the government, and colleges. Working together across sectors is crucial to building a bigger and more significant movement. These initiatives can foster fieldwork and social networks while actively involving students in environmental initiatives off campus.
- The creation of green campus initiatives including plastic-free zones, garbage banks, and vertical gardens. Campuses must be authentic representations of sustainable practices. In addition to improving the environment, these green initiatives give children a place to study, create, and actively participate in protecting the environment.
Conclusion
When it comes to addressing the issues of the global ecological catastrophe, students’ social concern for the environment is a crucial starting point. Students have the ability to be leaders in fostering an environmentally conscious culture in society since they are a knowledgeable and powerful group. But only with the help of several stakeholders campuses, organizations, and governmental regulations as well as with individual understanding and sustained dedication can this promise be fulfilled.
Students may make a substantial contribution to protecting the planet that serves as our shared home by developing ecological literacy, bolstering practical action, and cultivating a sense of social responsibility. For today’s youth and the future of mankind, this duty is not only a decision; it is a moral need.
