Environmental Literacy and Awareness about Global Climate Change among Nursing Student Towards Sustainable Development
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64397/nepj.v01i03.2026.a33Keywords:
nursing students, environmental literacy, global climate change awareness, sustainable developmentAbstract
Introduction: The incidence of diseases has increased due to climate change and nurses play a vital role in addressing these health challenges. However, there is inadequate incorporation of environmental literacy and global climate change in nursing programs, which leads nursing graduates to be unprepared in handling environmental issues.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the degree of environmental literacy of nursing students toward sustainable development, assess their level of awareness of global climate change, and examine the significant relationship between environmental literacy and global climate change awareness among nursing students.
Methods: A descriptive-correlational research design was employed. The study was conducted from March to April 2025 in five universities in Baguio City and involved 358 nursing students. Respondents were selected using simple random sampling through the fishbowl method from each stratum. Data were collected using two standardized instruments: Environmental Literacy Scale for Adults and the Awareness Scale of University Students About Global Climate Change. Descriptive statistics and the Pearson Correlation Coefficient were used for data analysis.
Results: The study revealed that nursing students have a high level of environmental literacy of all three domains with a mean of 4.16. Nursing students have a moderate level of awareness about global climate change with a mean of 3.26. The results showed a weak positive correlation between environmental literacy and awareness about global climate change among nursing students with a Pearson Correlation of 0.372.
Conclusion: Nursing students show proficient knowledge on environmental issues, but demonstrate adequate awareness on global climate change. Enhancing environmental and climate change education may strengthen nursing students’ capacity to support climate action and sustainable development.
Downloads
References
1. Abdelrahman, M. M., Hussien, R. H., Othman, A. A., Hashem, R., & Rateb, M. A. (2025). Towards a greener future: nursing students’ climate consciousness and green purchasing intentions. BMC Nursing, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02950-
2. Álvarez-Nieto, C., Álvarez-García, C., Parra-Anguita, L., Sanz-Martos, S., & López-Medina, I. M. (2022). Effectiveness of scenario-based learning and augmented reality for nursing students’ attitudes and awareness toward climate change and sustainability. BMC Nursing, 21(245). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-01023-9
3. Álvarez-Nieto, C., Richardson, J., Navarro-Perán, M. Á., Tutticci, N., Huss, N., Elf, M., Anåker, A., Aronsson, J., Baid, H., & López-Medina, I. M. (2022). Nursing students’ attitudes towards climate change and sustainability: A cross-sectional multisite study. Nurse Education Today, 108, 105185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105185
4. Amerson, R. M., Boice, O., Mitchell, H., & Bible, J. (2022). Nursing faculty's perceptions of climate change and sustainability. Nursing Education Perspectives, 43(5), 277–282. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000991
5. Anaker, A., Spante, M., & Elf, M. (2021). Nursing students' perception of climate change and sustainability actions – A mismatched discourse: A qualitative, descriptive exploratory study. Nurse Education Today, 105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105028
6. Artime, O., & De Domenico, M. (2022). From the origin of life to pandemics: emergent phenomena in complex systems. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society a Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciencesi, 380 (2227). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2020.0410
7. Atabek-Yiğit, E., Köklükaya, N., Yavuz, M., & Demirhan, E. (2014). DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY SCALE FOR ADULTS (ELSA). Journal of Baltic Science Education, 13(3), 425–435. https://doi.org/10.33225/jbse/14.13.425
8. Atta, M. H. R., Zoromba, M. A., El-Gazar, H. E., Loutfy, A., Elsheikh, M. A., El-Ayari, O. S. M., Sehsah, I., & Elzohairy, N. W. (2024). Climate anxiety, environmental attitude, and job engagement among nursing university colleagues: a multicenter descriptive study. BMC COLEMNursing, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-01788-1
9. Baykara Mat, S. T., & Yilmaz, B. N. (2024). Is awareness of climate change a predictor of eco-anxiety? Research within the scope of nursing students. Nurse Education Today, 140, 106274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106274
10. Benoit, L., I. Thomas, and A. Martin. (2022). “Review: Ecological Awareness, Anxiety, and Actions Among Youth and Their Parents—A Qualitative Study of Newspaper Narratives.” Child And Adolescent Mental Health 27, no. 1: 47–58. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12514.
11. Bøhlerengen, M., & Wiium, N. (2022). Environmental attitudes, Behaviors, and responsibility perceptions among Norwegian Youth: Associations with Positive Youth Development Indicators. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 844324. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.844324
12. Bollettino, V. Alcayna-Stevens, T. Sharma, M. et al. (2020). Public perception of climate change and disaster preparedness: Evidence from the Philippines. https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/public-perception-climate-change-and-disaster-preparedness-evidence-philippines
13. Catubay, A. T. Cristobal, J. R, Malang, B. P., & Malang, J. D. (2024). Public Awareness, Perceptions, and Attitudes Toward Renewable Energy Adoption in the Philippines: Insights for Strategic Policy Development. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Applied Business and Education Research, 5(11), 4800-4819. https://doi.org/10.11594/jmaber.05.11.38
14. Cengiz, B., & Bahar, Z. (2023). The characteristics of university students on environmental attitude and environmental literacy level: Example of Faculty of Nursing. Fenerbahçe University Journal of Health Sciences, 3(2), 161-174. https://doi.org/10.56061/fbujohs.1210065
15. Cevheroğlu, S., & Fırat Kılıç, H. (2025). Environmental health literacy levels of nursing students. BMC nursing, 24(1), 1425. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-04078-6
16. Coffey, Y., Bhullar, N., Durkin, J., Islam, M. S., & Usher, K. (2021). Understanding Eco-anxiety: A Systematic Scoping Review of Current Literature and Identified Knowledge Gaps. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 3(3), 100047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2021.100047
17. Coleman, A. F., Eisenman, T. S., Locke, D. H., & Harper, R. W. (2023). Exploring links between resident satisfaction and participation in an urban tree planting initiative. Cities, 134, Article 104195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.104195
18. Corpuz, A., Andres, T., & Lagasca, J. (2022). INTEGRATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION (EE) IN TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS: TOWARD SUSTAINABLE CURRICULUM GREENING. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. ISSN 1822-7864 (Print) ISSN 2538-7111 (Online). https://doi.org/10.33225/pec/22.80.119
19. Deniz, M., İnel, Y., & Sezer, A. (2021). Awareness scale of university students about global climate change. International Journal of Geography and Geography Education, (43), 252–264. https://doi.org/10.32003/igge.818561
20. Department of Energy Philippines & National Renewable Energy Board. (2021). National Renewable Energy Program 2020-2040. Department of Energy Philippines. https://doe.gov.ph/sites/default/files/pdf/announcements/nrep_2020-2040.pdf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR5r__TqB4OUDZNHXk-OJ9Q-SYTN8nn64rxw406WGLguxPDisx8iHsMZOFeqww_aem_DaUYjuO5JdzLzUTB4NrLAQ
21. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (2020). Tree planting improves quality of life | DENR. Denr.gov.ph. https://denr.gov.ph/news-events/tree-planting-improves-quality-of-life/
22. Desabayla, R. R., & Gueta, N. G. (2023). The climate change awareness among senior high school students in Sorsogon Province, Philippines. European Journal of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, 1(2), 84–92. https://doi.org/10.59324/ejtas.2023.1(2).09
23. Domantay, J. A. A., Leochico, C. F. D., Salvador, P. A. G. S., Ciriaco, V. M., Abad, P. R., Capistrano, V. E., Cruz, G. M., Darang, L. C., Rosario, D. M. D., Gadgad, J. A., Pagalanan, J., Palaylay, A., Perez, F. J. & Torres, C. P. (2021).Knowledge and attitudes of future physicians in the Cordillera region of the Philippines towards climate change: A pre-pandemic cross-sectional study. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 4, 100063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2021.100063
24. Dönmez, R. Ö., & Yardımcı, E. (2024). Environmental awareness and sustainable consumption behaviours of Turkish nursing students. PeerJ, 12, e17366. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17366
25. Ello, M. Q., Telen, J. Mae., Telewik, R., & O-ong, C. (2024). Environmental Stewardship Towards Sustainable Lifestyle of College of Teacher Education Students. International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Research, 10(1), 42–56. https://doi.org/10.56201/ijssmr.v10.no1.2024.pg42.56
26. Elsharkawy, S. A., Elsheikh, A. A., & Refaat, L. a. R. (2023). Knowledge, perception, and practices regarding climate change among students of Al-Azhar University for Girls in Cairo, Egypt. Journal of Public Health, 32(7), 1251–1260. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-023-01901-9
27. Er, S., Murat, M., Ata, E. E., Köse, S., & Buzlu, S. (2024). Nursing students’ mental health: How does eco-anxiety affect it? International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 33(5), 1315–1326. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13320
28. Fajeriadi, H., Fahmi, F., & Arisandi, R. (2024). HOW DOES STUDENTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY SUPPORT THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS? A LITERATURE REVIEW. Indonesian Journal of Science Education and Applied Science, 4(2), 61-69.
29. Feather, G., & Williams, M. (2022). The moderating effects of psychological flexibility and psychological inflexibility on the relationship between climate concern and climate-related distress. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 23, 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.12.007
30. Fields, L., Dean, B. A., Perkiss, S., & Moroney, T. (2024). Nursing action towards the sustainable development goals: Barriers and opportunities. Nurse Education Today, 134, 106102–106102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106102
31. Fields, L., Moroney, T., Perkiss, S., & Dean, B. A. (2023). Enlightening and empowering students to take action: Embedding sustainability into nursing curriculum. Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 49, 57–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.09.001
32. Fırat Kılıç, H. (2024). Evaluating the Relationship between Nursing Students’ Environmental Awareness and Sensitivity and Their Environment Literacy. Journal of Education and Research in Nursing, 58–64. https://doi.org/10.14744/jern.2023.54614
33. Fırat Kılıç, H., Cevheroğlu, S., & Gök, N. D. (2024). Nursing students’ awareness of global climate change: A descriptive and cross‐sectional study: Public Health Nursing. Public Health Nursing, 1. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13340
34. Greaves, S., Harvey, C., & Kotera, Y. (2023). Exposure to Climate Change Information on Affect and Pro-Environmental Behavioural Intentions: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Earth, 4(4), 845–858. https://doi.org/10.3390/earth4040045
35. Giuseppe, L. T., Alice, D. P. B., Sestili, C., Rosario, A. C., Barbato, D., Mannocci, A., & Angela, D. C. (2020). Knowledge and perception about climate change among healthcare professionals and students: A cross-sectional study. South Eastern European Journal of Public Health, 13, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.4119/seejph-3347
36. Handayani, W., Ariescy, R., Cahya, F., Yusnindi, S., & Sulistyo, D. (2021). Literature review: environmental awareness and pro-environmental behavior. 5th International Seminar of Research Month 2020. NST Proceedings. pages 170-173. doi:10.11594/ nstp.2021.0925
37. Hernando-Malipot, M. (2022). DepEd strengthens climate education in K to 12 curriculum. Manila Bulletin.https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/06/deped-strengthens-climate-education-in-k-to-12-curriculum/#google_vignette
38. Ilham, Z., Zulkifli, N. E. I., Ismail, N. F., Danik, A. S., Abdul Halim-Lim, S., Wan-Mohtar, W. A. A. Q. I., & Jamaludin, A. A. (2022). Energy conservation: awareness analysis among secondary school students. Environmental Education Research, 28(6), 925–947. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2022.2031902
39. Iira Tiitta, Floro Cubelo, McDermott-Levy, R., Jouni J.K. Jaakkola, & Kuosmanen, L. (2024). Climate change integration in nursing education: A scoping review. Nurse Education Today, 106210–106210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.10621
40. Incesu, O., & Altiner Yas, M. (2023). The relationship between nursing students' environmental literacy and awareness of global climate change. Public Health Nursing, 40(6), 1034–1041. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13255
41. Jamaludin, A. A., Zulkifli, N., Bharin, S., Jani, R., Mokhtar, M., Lim, S., … Ilham, Z. (2022). Awareness on energy conservation: a case study of first-year undergraduate students in Malaysia. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 24. doi:10.1108/IJSHE-03-2022-0084
42. Kim, N., & Lee, K. (2023). Environmental consciousness, purchase intention, and actual purchase behavior of eco-friendly products: The moderating impact of situational context. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(7), 5312. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20075312
43. Kocoglu-Taylor, D., Dengiz, K. S., & Sacikara, Z. (2024). Nursing students' conceptualization of environmental problems: a descriptive cross-sectional study. Nurse Education Today, 140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106296
44. Leal Filho, W., Yayeh Ayal, D., Wall, T., Shiel, C., Paco, A., Pace, P., Mifsud, M., Lange Salvia, A., Skouloudis, A., Moggi, S., LeVasseur, T., Vinuesa Antonio, G., Azeiteiro, U. M., Ioannis, N., & Kovaleva, M. (2023). An Assessment of Attitudes and Perceptions of International University Students on Climate Change. Climate Risk Management, 39, 100486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2023.100486
45. Lee, L., Lee, Y., Wu, M., & Pan, Y. (2019). A study of energy literacy among nursing students to examine implications on energy conservation efforts in Taiwan. Energy Policy, 135, 111005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111005
46. Li, Y. Y., & Liu, S. C. (2022). Examining Taiwanese students’ views on climate change and the teaching of climate change in the context of higher education. Research in Science & Technological Education, 40(4), 515–528. https://doi.org/10.1080/02635143.2020.1830268
47. Luque-Alcaraz, O. M., Aparicio-Martínez, P., Gomera, A., & Vaquero-Abellán, M. (2024). The environmental awareness of nurses as environmentally sustainable health care leaders: a mixed method analysis. BMC Nursing (Online), 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-01895-z
48. Mazzalai, E., Chiappetta, M., & La Torre, G. (2022). Knowledge and perception about climate change among healthcare professionals and students: A cross-sectional study. Clinica Terapeutica, 173(5), 443–452. https://doi.org/10.4119/seejph-3347
49. Nagihan İlaslan, & Nuray Şahin Orak. (2024). Relationship between nursing students’ global climate change awareness, climate change anxiety and sustainability attitudes in nursing: a descriptive and cross-sectional study. BMC Nursing, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02252-w
50. Obrecht, M., Feodorova, Z., & Rosi, M. (2022). Assessment of Environmental Sustainability Integration into higher education for future experts and leaders. Journal of Environmental Management. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479722007964
51. Örs, M. (2022). A Measurement of the Environmental Literacy of Nursing Students for a Sustainable Environment. Sustainability, 14(17), 11003. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141711003
52. Pandve, H., Chawla, P., Fernandez, K., Singru, S., Khismatrao, D., & Pawar, S. (2011). Assessment of awareness regarding climate change in an urban community. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 15(3), 109. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5278.93200
53. Philippine Board of Nursing. (2004). Promulgation of the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses. Board Resolution No. 220, Series of 2004. https://prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/Board%20of%20Nursing-CE.pdf
54. Preece, N. D., van Oosterzee, P., & Lawes, M. J. (2023). Reforestation success can be enhanced by improving tree planting methods. Journal of Environmental Management, 336, Article 117645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117645
55. Romanello, M., Di Napoli, C., Drummond, P., Green, C., Kennard, H., Lampard, P., Scamman, D., Arnell, N., Ayeb-Karlsson, S., Ford, L. B., Belesova, K., Bowen, K., Cai, W., Callaghan, M., Campbell-Lendrum, D., Chambers, J., Van Daalen, K. R., Dalin, C., Dasandi, N., . . . Costello, A. (2022). The 2022 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: health at the mercy of fossil fuels. The Lancet, 400(10363), 1619–1654. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(22)01540-9
56. Ryan, E. C., Dubrow, R., & Sherman, J. D. (2020). Medical, nursing, and physician assistant student knowledge and attitudes toward climate change, pollution, and resource conservation in health care. BMC Medical Education, 20(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02099-0
57. Santos, J. P., & Gumabay, E. M. S. (2024). Nursing Students’ Perceptions about the Effects of Climate Change on Health: A Descriptive Exploratory Study. Nurse Media Journal of Nursing, 14(1), 16–28. https://doi.org/10.14710/nmjn.v14i1.53942
58. Shivanna K. R. (2022). Climate change and its impact on biodiversity and human welfare. Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy. Part A, Physical Sciences, 88(2), 160–171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43538-022-00073-6
59. Taminato, M., Fernandes, H., & Barbosa, D. A. (2023). Nursing and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): an essential commitment. Revista Brasileira De Enfermagem, 76(6), e760601. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167.2023760601
60. UNESCO. Climate action. (2024, January 19). https://www.unesco.org/en/climate-change
61. Willie, M. M. (2024). Population and Target Population in Research Methodology. Golden Ratio of Social Science and Education, 4(1), 75–79. https://doi.org/10.52970/grsse.v4i1.405
62. Yeboah, A., Adegboye, A., & Kneafsey, R. (2024). Nurses’ perceptions, attitudes, and perspectives in relation to climate change and sustainable healthcare practices: A systematic review. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 16, 100290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2023.100290
63. Yusuf, R., Yunus, M., Maimun, M., & Fajri, I. (2022). Environmental education: A correlational study among environmental literacy, disaster knowledge, environmental sensitivity, and clean-living behavior of post-tsunami disaster in Aceh communities, Indonesia. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 31(1), 411–425. https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/139327
64. Zacher, H., & Rudolph, C. W. (2023). Environmental knowledge is inversely associated with climate change anxiety. Climatic Change, 176(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-023-03518-z
Downloads
Published
Data Availability Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Federico M. Tena III, Marianne Angela A. Cortez, Jenifer Jan N. Zamoranos, Rhaiza Jane P. Saley, Mary Joy Faith W. Saguipel, Alyssa Marie S. Cruz, Zharylle A. Estigoy, Yoela Grace P. Baltazar, Joanna Angel Marie M. Ballesteros, Haleiza Zyreen V. Garcia, Teresa N. Basatan, PhD, RN (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. This license permits anyone to copy and redistribute this material in any form or format, modify, and make derivative works of this material for any purpose, including commercial purposes, as long as they credit the author for the original work.
