AMBIENTE, SOSTENIBILITÀ, ECOLOGIA. PERCEZIONI E COMPORTAMENTI DELLE GIOVANI GENERAZIONI

The issue of sustainability is greatly debated and one of the main points in the institutional agenda, but what is the opinion of the young generations and what is their behaviour? The aim of this work is twofold: to identify young people’s behaviour, perceptions and how they get information about sustainability, and to define young people’s different profiles and features. A CAWI survey addressed to the students attending the fourth and fifth year of high school all over Italy was carried out. The answers of 1013 students who filled out the questionnaire on the web were then collected. The evidence that comes out is that high school students care about the issue of sustainability, which, however, varies depending on the geographical area where they live and the school attended. A basic idea of sustainability, particularly widespread in the North and among the students of classical, scientific and linguistic schools consists in a significant effort to reduce pollution, protect natural resources, preserve food resources and improve waste management.The other idea of sustainability widespread in the South of Italy and among students of technical and professional institutes, combines the idea of sustainability with that of the economic development of the territory.