Educação ambiental como estratégia para a construção de uma cultura de sustentabilidade para o público infantojuvenil

Abstract

Environmental education contributes to the understanding of socio-environmental issues and encourages more conscious attitudes in everyday life. This study aimed to analyze the contributions of environmental education activities to the development of a culture of sustainability among children and adolescents. This is an applied, qualitative, and descriptive study conducted in schools and a non-formal educational setting in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The activities addressed biodiversity, rational water use, tree conservation, pollution, wildfires, and proper waste disposal through interactive activities, lectures, discussion groups, and tree-planting initiatives. Data analysis was based on participants' engagement and on materials produced during the activities, such as drawings, sentences, and short texts. The results demonstrated participants' understanding of the topics and highlighted the appreciation of sustainable practices, including water conservation, animal care, selective waste collection, and the preservation of green areas. It is concluded that the environmental education activities promoted reflections on individual and collective responsibility for environmental preservation.