Abstract

The recent environmental emergency sounded off by experts necessitates drastic action from highly developed and developing countries alike. Among the stakeholders needing information and education to contribute to a meaningful environmental response, the youth (15 to 30 years old) are in the frontline to receive instruction. The present study argues that ecological conversations involving the youth can begin with a meaningful and contextual understanding of their interior dispositions, addressing their awareness and attitudes, before proposing environmentally-focused alternative programs for action. Second, we propose that the youth’s religious viewpoints are in dialogue with their perceptions of the environment, citing recent empirical reports. In the absence of an actual study reporting youth attitudes of religion vis a vis environmental awareness, this article underscores the need to articulate religious attitudes and environmental awareness as preliminary considerations to an ecological dialogue with the youth. In view of this research intent, the present study reviews youth levels of awareness of critical environmental issues and its relationship to their attitudes toward religion using a measure on religion and an adapted measure on students’ environmental awareness. Data were analyzed using descriptive tools and independent samples t-test through a descriptive quantitative design. Preliminary considerations toward an ecological youth dialogue on climate change and environmental issues and its implications for school environmental education are explored.