Ecological Citizenship: The Role of Young Citizens in Environmental Responsibility and Sustainability

Authors

  • Makarius Erwin Bria Universitas Nusa Cendana, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia
  • Kokom Komalasari Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
  • Dadang Sundawa Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
  • Asep Mahpudz Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia

Keywords:

Ecological Citizenship, Civic Engagement, Responsibility, Sustainability

Abstract

This article examines ecological citizenship, which refers to individual awareness and responsibility as part of the larger natural environment, and is becoming increasingly important in the context of global climate change and the current environmental crisis. Being environmentally conscious is important for young citizens because they will inherit this planet in the future. The method used in this research is qualitative research with library research. Data was collected from an analysis of relevant source books and journals and a document analysis of several articles related to this topic. Citizenship Education plays an essential role in shaping ecological citizenship. Citizenship education develops attitudes of care, civic responsibility, commitment, and engagement for young citizens to act positively to protect the environment. Further research needs to be conducted to explore the most effective learning strategies in instilling the values of ecological citizenship, both through conventional methods and digital technology-based approaches. Young people are expected to understand the concept of environmental citizenship and actively participate in concrete actions.

References

Addahlawi, H. A., Mustaghfiroh, U., Ni’mah, L. K., Sundusiyah, A., & Hidayatullah, A. F. (2019). Implementasi prinsip good environmental governance dalam pengelolaan sampah di indonesia. Jurnal Green Growth Dan Manajemen Lingkungan, 8(2), 106-118.

Anggasta, G., & Widiastuti, W. (2022). Environmental Preservation Ethics Practiced by Environmental Enthusiast Communities in Bali. Sinektika: Jurnal Arsitektur, 19(1), 82–90.

Ariyani, Y. D., & Wangid, M. N. (2016). Thematic-Integrative Teaching Material Development Based on Environmental Care and Responsibility Character Values. Jurnal Pendidikan Karakter, 6(1), 116–129.

Asshiddiqie, J. (2010). Green Constitution: The Green Nuance of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

Budimansyah, D. (2008). Civic Education and Multicultural Society. Program Studi Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan, Sekolah Pascasarjana, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia.

Cahyono, S. A., Warsito, S. P., Andayani, W., & Darwanto, D. H. (2015). Factors Affecting Forest Fires in Indonesia and Policy Implications. Jurnal Sylva Lestari, 3(1), 103–112.

Cogan, J. J. (1997). The Citizenship Education Policy Study Project: Final Report.

Dermawan, D., Lahming, L., & Mandra, M. A. S. (2018). Kajian strategi pengelolaan sampah. UNM Environmental Journals, 1(3), 86-90.

Fahlevi, R., Jannah, F., & Sari, R. (2020). Implementation of River-Based Environmental Care Character Through the Adiwiyata Program in Elementary Schools. Jurnal Moral Kemasyarakatan, 5(2), 68–74.

Gusmadi, S., & Samsuri, S. (2020). Ecological Citizenship Movement as an Effort to Build Environmental Care Character. Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Pancasila dan Kewarganegaraan, 4(2), 381–391.

Hsu, S., & Perry, N. (2014). Lessons in Sustainable Development from Malaysia and Indonesia. Springer.

Huda, M., Mat Teh, K. S., Nor Muhamad, N. H., & Mohd Nasir, B. (2018). Transmitting Leadership-Based Civic Responsibility: Insights from Service Learning. International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 34(1), 20–31.

Irwan, Z. D. (2012). Principles of Ecology: Ecosystems, Environment, and Their Preservation. Bumi Aksara.

Jannah, R. (2018). Creating Ecological Citizenship in the Digital Era Through Kampoeng Recycle Jember. Journal of Urban Sociology, 1(2), 14–26.

Juliati, J., Hermawan, W., & Firman, M. (2019). Civic Education as a Means to Improve Awareness of Living Better Together. Jurnal Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan, 16(1), 29–37.

Kalidjernih, F. K. (2009). The Diversity of Citizenship Concepts and Issues. Widya Aksara Press.

Khairunnisa, K., Jiwandono, I. S., Nurhasanah, N., Dewi, N. K., Saputra, H. H., & Wati, T. L. (2019). Environmental Cleanliness Campaign Through Community Service Program in North Lombok. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pengabdian Masyarakat, 2(2).

Leontinus, G. (2022). Program dalam pelaksanaan tujuan pembangunan berkelanjutan (SDGS) dalam hal masalah perubahan iklim di Indonesia. Jurnal Samudra Geografi, 5(1), 43-52.

Machfiroh, R., Sapriya, S., & Komalasari, K. (2018). Characteristics of Young Indonesian Citizenship in the Digital Era. In Proceedings of the Annual Civic Education Conference (ACEC 2018) (pp. 5–7). Atlantis Press.

Maharani, S., & Aryanta, W. R. (2023). Dampak buruk polusi udara bagi kesehatan dan cara meminimalkan risikonya. Jurnal Ecocentrism, 3(2), 47-58.

Mariyani, M. (2017). Strategies for Forming Ecological Citizenship. In Proceedings of the 3rd National Conference on Citizenship. Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Yogyakarta, 9, 17–22.

Melo-Escrihuela, C. (2008). Promoting Ecological Citizenship: Rights, Duties and Political Agency. ACME: An International Journal for Critical Geographies, 7(2), 113–134.

Muttaqien, K., Sugiarto, S., & Sarifudin, S. (2019). Upaya meningkatkan kesadaran masyarakat terhadap kesehatan lingkungan melalui program Bank Sampah. Indonesian Journal of Adult and Community Education, 1(1), 6-10.

Nugroho, D. A., Wahyu, W., & Casmana, A. R. (2025). Engaging Learning for Environmental Awareness: Integrating Virtual Reality in Ecological Citizenship Education. Journal of Moral and Civic Education, 9(1), 36–47.

Nurjanah, F., Listyaningsih, L., & Stiawati, T. (2018). Community Participation in Supporting the 12-Year Compulsory Education Program in Petir District, Serang Regency (Doctoral Dissertation, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa).

Park, W.-Y., & Kim, C.-J. (2020). The Impact of Project Activities on the Cultivation of Ecological Citizenship in a High School Climate Change Club. Asia-Pacific Science Education, 6(1), 41–69.

Prasetiyo, W. H., & Budimansyah, D. (2016). Citizenship and Ecology: A Case Study on Developing Environmentally Concerned Citizens in the Bandung Urban Farming Community. Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora, 4(4), 177–186.

Santoso, R., Ratnawati, H., & Riyanti, D. (2022). Clustering of Deforestation Rates: The Ecology of Indonesian Citizenship. Indonesian Journal of Conservation, 11(1), 34–38.

Sari, S. C. W., Samsuri, S., & Wahidin, D. (2020). Strengthening Ecological Citizenship to Realize Environmental Resilience (A Study in Kampung Gambiran, Pandeyan Subdistrict, Umbulharjo District, Yogyakarta City, Yogyakarta Special Region). Jurnal Ketahanan Nasional, 26(1), 40.

Setiawan, R. B., Damanhuri, D., & Lestari, R. Y. (2022). Community Participation and Its Challenges in Kampung Markisa, Tangerang City. Journal of Civic Education, 5(4), 438–448.

Shin, J. Y., Kim, E., & Singal, M. (2025). Breaking the plastic habit: Unveiling strategies for reducing single-use plastic utensil usage on online food delivery platforms. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 131, 104334.

Silfiana, L., & Samsuri, S. (2019). Youth Citizenship Engagement in the Ecological Citizenship Movement for Environmentally-Oriented Sustainable Development. Jurnal Studi Pemuda, 8(2), 127–139.

Sunaedi, N., & As’ari, R. (2018). The Ecovillage Program as a Community Behavior Change Effort Preserving the Citanduy Watershed Area in Panumbangan District, Ciamis Regency. In Proceedings of the 9th National Geography Seminar UMS (pp. 419–427).

Winarningsih, W., Lestari, V., Wardani, R., & Adha, M. M. (2021). Strengthening Civic Virtue in Civic Education to Face the Society 5.0 Era. Pendidikan Pancasila dan Kewarganegaraan, 191–196.

Winataputra, U. S. (2012). Civic Education from the Perspective of Education to Enlighten National Life (Ideas, Instrumentation, and Praxis). Bandung: Widya Aksara Press.

Zed, M. (2008). Library Research Methods. Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia.

Published

2025-08-15

Issue

Section

Articles