6533b7d8fe1ef96bd1269958

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Development of environmental health competencies through compulsory education. A polyhedral approach based on the SDGs

Javier Montero-pauNuria ÁLvaroOlga MayoralValentín Gavidia

subject

Geography Planning and DevelopmentClimate changeTJ807-830SDG010501 environmental sciencesManagement Monitoring Policy and LawCompulsory educationTD194-19501 natural sciencesRenewable energy sourceshungerEnvironmental healthDesenvolupament sosteniblepollutionGE1-350Curriculum0105 earth and related environmental sciencesSustainable developmentcompulsory educationEnvironmental effects of industries and plantsallergiesRenewable Energy Sustainability and the EnvironmentConsumerism05 social sciencesPerspective (graphical)Educació ambiental050301 educationconsumerismEnvironmental sciencescompetencyclimate changePsychology0503 educationCanvis climàtics

description

This paper focuses on the competencies in environmental health acquired by students during compulsory education. Questionnaires addressing environmental health problems were completed by 923 students of primary and secondary schools from five different Spanish regions. The results for five challenging situations related to hunger, consumerism, climate change, pollution in the cities and allergies are analysed according to the internal coherence of each sub-competency, i.e., addressing knowledge, skills and attitudes towards these topics. Our results show that problems related to air and water pollution were the most commonly described by the students. Focusing on competency achievement, the higher the educational level, the higher the score students obtained, especially regarding pollution and climate change, two problems that appear directly in the school curriculum. The complexity of the concept of environmental health matches with the necessary holistic perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals in a polyhedral approach including as many factors (facets) as necessary to complete the approach to this evolving concept.

10.3390/su12083215https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083215