Current Trends and Patterns of Environmental Citizenship: Behavioural Insights from Primary School Students of India

Environmental citizenship is an internationally acknowledged and researched concept due to its potentiality in preparing students as future citizens with an ability to contribute in a positive manner in the mitigation of ongoing environmental crises.These environmental issues are non-territorial and demand collective initiatives.Environmental citizenship holds that potentiality of bringing the people from different nation to work for a common cause.The aim of the study was to explore the concept of environmental citizenship in Indian milieu through analysis of behavioural insight of Primary school students.The data from a random sample of, n = 204 (93 females and 111 males) was collected through a self-designed online survey ECO.The behavioural insights of students on environmental literacy, environmental responsibility, pro-environmental behaviour and environmental activism was gathered.It was found that students showed patterns of environmental citizenship.Environmental literacy and activism were found to be high in student but they lack in environmental responsibility and proenvironmental behaviour.This is because of the externality of locus of control and lack of intrinsic belongingness with environment.The study suggests that environmental consciousness pedagogies and ample opportunities for engagement with nature can promote positive virtues of environmental citizenship in the students.