With so many environmental disasters happening in Brazil, environmental protection has become the subject of many discussions among university students. The topic isn’t new, and people have always been talking about the impacts of man's actions on nature and how these unrestrained actions can have negative impacts.

The popularity of the subject means that it is even included as a possible topic for college entrance exams and ENEM, as well as a topic for many academic papers. Experts say that nowadays, due to the ease of monograph buying and how much it costs to buy TCC and monograph online, this purchase strategy has been increasingly adopted by students who want to do TCC on the subject of environmental protection and also on other topics.

But what do Brazilian students actually know about environmental protection in Brazil? A survey carried out by more than 5 thousand young Brazilians, mostly aged 18 to 29, showed that the topic “environment, climate, and animal protection” is among the topics of greatest personal interest for 21% of respondents.

Keep reading this article to understand more about the vision of young Brazilian university students for environmental protection.

Brazil’s Environmental Situation and the Impacts of Human Action

With several biomes—among them the richest in biodiversity, the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon Forest—Brazil is a huge country in terms of territory.

Even yet, the nation is beset by the effects of human activity because of deforestation and urbanization, which have caused towns to encroach on rivers and lakes, trees to be killed ruthlessly, and natural waterways to be changed.

Brazil also suffers from a lack of structure for the climate changes that are occurring in the country. All of these issues generate negative impacts, such as increased heat and floods in different regions of the country, causing damage to human life, fauna, and flora.

One of the ways to reduce these impacts is to educate young people and adults about the urgent need for environmental protection actions and the creation of public and private policies that support the topic. This is a matter that has been discussed extensively in the past, with numerous conversations surrounding the subject. However, there seems to be a lack of tangible action being taken to address it.

Insights into the Perception of Environmental Protection Among Young People

The research “Juventudes, Meio Ambiente e Mudanças Climáticas” carried out by the organization Em Movimento, in partnership with the NGO Rede Conhecimento Social in 2022, interviewed more than 5 thousand young Brazilians from different regions, the majority between 18 and 29 years old, and collected their perceptions on the topic of environment and climate. Here's a look at what the report uncovered.

How Do Young People Initially Encounter the Topic?

The report showed that a good number of young people report having started to come into contact with environmental issues as adults, due to college or political discussions, where they are able to deepen their knowledge about the importance of this issue. In the survey, 80% of young respondents said they often or sometimes had conversations about the subject in the university environment.

How the Younger Generation Perceives the Effects of the Climate Crisis

Eight out of ten young people in the study believe that a climate crisis is happening. The study also highlighted the fact that young Brazilians have shown that they believe these issues have arisen as a result of climate change and that their nation is unable to deal with them:

• —> Rising temperature on Earth
• —> Glacier melting
• —> Sea level rise
• —> Storms
• —> Prolonged droughts
• —> Extinction of animals and plants
• —> Landslides

In general, the research also highlighted a strong concern among young people in Brazil regarding these climate changes and a lack of knowledge about how to act in extreme cases. Among the biggest concerns cited are:

• —> The scarcity of water
• —> Increase in the cost of living
• —> Worsening quality of food
• —> Possibility of other pandemics
• —> Lack of basic items
• —> Fear of developing new diseases

The Environmental Work of Brazilian Youth

The report also listed the main measures that young people usually take with the intention of protecting the environment. The most frequently mentioned measures include:

1. 1. Avoiding Food Waste

Adopted by 75% of the young people interviewed.

2. 2. Using Energy Consciously

Followed by 64% of the participants.

3. 3. Reusing Materials

Implemented by 52% of respondents.

4. 4. Voting for Candidates Who Support Climate Issues

A choice made by 49% of the youth surveyed.

5. 5. Recycling Waste

Practiced by 49% of those interviewed.

6. 6. Fighting for Structural Changes in the Community

Engaged by 47% of participants.

7. 7. Sharing Information about Climate Change

Reported by 37% of respondents.

8. 8. Participating in Environmental Discussions

Involved 29% of the young people interviewed.

Why Young People Push for Environmental Preservation

The reasons why young Brazilians interviewed in the Youth, Environment and Climate Change survey engage in environmental protection campaigns are varied. But the majority of those interviewed agree that the main reason is concern about the future of the planet, followed by concern about the impact of the issue on the lives of young people and those close to them, and also awareness of the urgency of the issue.

The Main Problems Identified

Despite showing that young Brazilians are aware of climate issues and the need to protect the environment, the report also showed some of the problems the country faces, especially the lack of knowledge and discussions on the environmental topic.

Limited Knowledge

Despite the importance attributed to the environmental issue, the research also showed that there are still limitations in knowledge on the topic of environment and climate and that some young people are unaware of some basic notions on the subject: 4 out of every 10 interviewed, lack knowledge about the biome of their own region.

Insufficient Discussions Regarding the Topic

Despite there being frequent conversations among young people about environmental issues, most of those interviewed stated that these conversations are still rare. 63% responded that they have conversations about environmental issues frequently or occasionally, and 37% responded that they do not talk or rarely talk about environmental issues.

Where the Agenda Is Deliberated

When analyzing which environmental issues are addressed among young people, the university occupies an important position, with 80% of young people saying they have conversations about the topic at their university.

• —> Family: 87% of young people have conversations about environmental issues with their families.
• —> Friends: 87% of young people say they talk about environmental issues with friends
• —> University: 80% of young people have conversations about environmental issues at the university or school where they study.
• —> Social networks: 76% of young people interviewed stated that they talk about environmental issues on social networks.

Environmental issues are urgent in Brazil, and young people have been aware of this, but there is still a lot to be done. Educating students from an early age is one of the ways to create awareness and raise responsible adults. Thus, the environmental theme must be increasingly present in college entrance exams and ENEM, as well as in academic works and TCCs in the most varied areas of study.