The significance of fostering ecological awareness and education on climate change from an early age

The development of environmental awareness from an early age is crucial for environmental protection and sustainable development. Environmental awareness includes knowledge about the limitations of natural resources, valuing ecological situations and adopting responsible behavior towards nature. Preschools play a significant role in the formation of environmental habits among children through educational and practical activities such as recycling and learning about environmental protection. The goal of the research conducted was to analyze the attitudes of educators about the importance of environmental protection in preschool education, the level of their education, as well as the application of good practices. The results show that educators are interested in environmental topics, but they lack mandatory and systematic education. Children have basic knowledge about environment, but there is a room for improvement. The paper concludes that it is necessary to increase the presence of environmental topics in educational programs, develop cooperation with environmental protection organizations and involve parents in the education process. This approach would enable the development of awareness and responsibility towards nature among children from the earliest age, thus ensuring a solid bases in fighting climate change consequences.