Posicionamento de adolescentes sobre mudanças climáticas e estilos de vida sustentáveis: (re)significando o planeta e o futuro?

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate how adolescents position themselves in the face of climate change (CC) and how this positioning is associated with indicators of sustainable lifestyles. The multi-method approach used consisted of two steps. In the first one, a questionnaire was applied to 484 students, with a mean age of 15.5 years (SD = 1.34), of public and private schools in the cities of Natal, Arez and São Miguel do Gostoso, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. A interceding phase was conducted, whereby 11 exploratory interviews with teachers of these students were performed, in order to elucidate previous information from the first stage and to assist the structure of second step, which involved nine focal groups with some of the questionnaire respondents. The causes of the problem were the most indicated category in the questionnaires, with issues associated with pollution by the accumulation of garbage and air pollution. At the same time, 70% of adolescents mentioned perceiving local consequences. A bias of spatial optimism was found: adolescents assessed MCs as more serious to the world than to their cities. I identified that 73% affirmed to practice environmental care actions, which was associated with the perception of consequences of MCs, and with connectivity with nature, which was also significantly associated with the assignment of responsibility for the problem. The data obtained by the focal groups helped to deepen and clarify the previous results. The adolescents explained why they understand that garbage plays an important role, provided an interpretation for the bias of optimism, and indicated a greater variability of actions in which they consider that it is possible to engage in mitigation of CC. This study, therefore, emphasizes the importance of multi-methodological approaches, and highlights guiding principles for socio-environmental education projects based on the perception of this public.