Religiosity, Institutional Policy, and Climate Awareness in Shaping Environmental Behaviour Among Gen Z Students at Islamic and Catholic Universities

M Pasqa; Asep Muhamad Iqbal

doi:10.36256/ijrs.v8i1.584

Religiosity, Institutional Policy, and Climate Awareness in Shaping Environmental Behaviour Among Gen Z Students at Islamic and Catholic Universities

M Pasqa, Asep Muhamad Iqbal

Abstract

This study examines how religiosity, institutional environmental policies, and climate change awareness shape pro-environmental behaviour among Generation Z students at an Islamic and a Catholic university in Indonesia. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, it integrates survey data from 300 students with six in-depth interviews to assess how faith-based institutions expect ecological values to inform daily practices. PLS-SEM results indicate that climate change awareness plays the most central role in encouraging pro-environmental behaviour, while institutional environmental policy primarily strengthens awareness rather than directly influencing habits. Religiosity functions more as a broad moral reference than as a consistent guide for concrete environmental actions. The research findings show that students’ climate awareness develops largely through everyday experiences and digital exposure, rather than through formal religious instruction or campus initiatives policy. The study challenges faith-based universities to reconceptualise environmental education from abstract theological instruction toward experiential programs actively involving students in sustained environmental practices, integrating religious values into lived habits through channels that genuinely shape Gen Z consciousness.

Keywords

Climate Awareness; Environmental Behaviour; Gen Z, Institutional Policy; Religiosity

Full Text:

PDF

References

Ab Hamid, M. R., Sami, W., & Mohmad Sidek, M. H. (2017). Discriminant Validity Assessment: Use of Fornell & Larcker criterion versus HTMT Criterion. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 890(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/890/1/012163

Amrullah, A. M. K., Murfi, A., Fauzi, A., & Basri, B. (2025). Integrating Islamic Education with Environmental Programs: Strategies for Sustainable Character Development at SMAN 2 and 7 Malang Indonesia. The Qualitative Report. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2025.6020

Ancelovici, M. (2021). Bourdieu in movement: toward a field theory of contentious politics. Social Movement Studies, 20(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2019.1637727

Archer, M. S. (1995). Realist Social Theory: The Morphogenetic Approach. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511557675

Asyari, A., Susanto, P., Hoque, M. E., Widianita, R., Alam, Md. K., & Mamun, A. Al. (2024). Food waste behavioral intention in Islamic universities: the role of religiosity and pro-social behavior. International Journal of Ethics and Systems. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijoes-10-2023-0231

Bourdieu, P. (1977). Outline of a Theory of Practice. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511812507

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Calculli, C., D’Uggento, A., Labarile, A., & Ribecco, N. (2021). Evaluating people’s awareness about climate changes and environmental issues: A case study. Journal of Cleaner Production. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129244

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. SAGE Publications. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=4uB76IC_pOQC

D’Arco, M., Marino, V., & Resciniti, R. (2023). Exploring the pro-environmental behavioral intention of Generation Z in the tourism context: the role of injunctive social norms and personal norms. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 33, 1100–1121. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2023.2171049

Erwinsyah, E. (2022). Environmental knowledge, attitudes, and practices for behavior change of university students: the case of Indonesia. Journal of STEAM Education. https://doi.org/10.55290/steam.1075516

Fitri, D. N., & Nastiti, A. (2025). The Effect of Information, Fear, and Risk Perceptions to Pro-Environmental Behavior among University Students in Indonesia. Jurnal Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Alam Dan Lingkungan (Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Management). https://doi.org/10.29244/jpsl.15.2.206

Gomes, S., Lopes, J., & Nogueira, S. (2023). Willingness to pay more for green products: A critical challenge for Gen Z. Journal of Cleaner Production. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136092

Hair, J., & Alamer, A. (2022). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in second language and education research: Guidelines using an applied example. Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, 1(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal.2022.100027

Harjatanaya, T. Y., Ferary, D., & Sarhindi, I. (2025). Education for sustainable development using participatory methodologies in Indonesian higher education: the case of Satya Terra Bhinneka University. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijshe-09-2024-0657

Herlina, M. G., Iskandar, K., & Dewi, D. (2025a). From Values to Climate Action: The Impact of Green Self-Efficacy on Pro-Environmental Behaviour in Greater Jakarta’s Higher Education Zillenials (SDG 13 View). E3S Web of Conferences. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202560100039

Herlina, M. G., Iskandar, K., & Dewi, D. (2025b). From Values to Climate Action: The Impact of Green Self-Efficacy on Pro-Environmental Behaviour in Greater Jakarta’s Higher Education Zillenials (SDG 13 View). E3S Web of Conferences. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202560100039

Hidayat, Z., & Hidayat, D. (2021). Environmental Sense of Gen Z in Online Communities: Exploring the Roles of Sharing Knowledge and Social Movement on Instagram. Proceedings of the 2nd Borobudur International Symposium on Humanities and Social Sciences, BIS-HSS 2020, 18 November 2020, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.18-11-2020.2311741

Irawan, Elia, A., & Benius. (2022). Interactive effects of citizen trust and cultural values on pro-environmental behaviors: A time-lag study from Indonesia. Heliyon, 8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09139

Juma‐Michilena, I., Ruiz-Molina, M., Gil‐Saura, I., & Belda-Miquel, S. (2024). Pro-environmental behaviours of generation Z: A cross-cultural approach. International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12208-024-00395-9

Kędzior-Laskowska, M., Szczubełek, G., & Lulińska, A. (2025). Generation Z’s attitudes towards environmental changes and renewable electricity: Evidence based on the New Ecological Paradigm. Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy. https://doi.org/10.24136/eq.3532

Lenoir, R. (2006). Scientific Habitus: Pierre Bourdieu and the Collective Intellectual. Theory, Culture & Society, 23(6). https://doi.org/10.1177/0263276406069774

Lu, W., Pongsakornrungsilp, P., Klamsaengsai, S., Ketkaew, K., Tonsakunthaweeteam, S., & Li, L. (2025). Influence of Creative Tourist Experiences and Engagement on Gen Z’s Environmentally Responsible Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114992

Maran, D. A., Butt, M. U., & Begotti, T. (2023). Pro-Environment Behaviors, Efficacy Beliefs, Perceived Individual and Social Norms: A Questionnaire Survey in a Sample of Young Adults From Pakistan. SAGE Open, 13. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231207444

Maulana, H., Nur, H., Erik, E., Firdaus, F., & Damanik, N. (2024a). Pro-environmental choices in Indonesia’s campus life: examining the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) for sustainable behavior in a university setting. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijshe-11-2023-0572

Maulana, H., Nur, H., Erik, E., Firdaus, F., & Damanik, N. (2024b). Pro-environmental choices in Indonesia’s campus life: examining the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) for sustainable behavior in a university setting. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-11-2023-0572

Moseholm, E., & Fetters, M. D. (2017). Conceptual models to guide integration during analysis in convergent mixed methods studies. Methodological Innovations, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/2059799117703118

Nasir, M., & Rijal, M. (2021). Keeping the Middle Path: Mainstreaming Religious Moderation through Islamic Higher Education Institutions in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v11i2.213-241

Pinho, M., & Gomes, S. (2023). Generation Z as a critical question mark for sustainable tourism – An exploratory study in Portugal. Journal of Tourism Futures. https://doi.org/10.1108/jtf-07-2022-0171

Radzi, N., Olaleye, B. R., Saidi, N. A., Hassan, S., & Khumalo, N. (2025). Environmental Sustainability Awareness and Knowledge Among Millennial and Gen Z Students: A Study from a Public Higher Education Institution. Journal of Lifestyle and SDGs Review. https://doi.org/10.47172/2965-730x.sdgsreview.v5.n04.pe03931

Ringle, C. M., Wende, S., & Becker, J.-M. (2022). SmartPLS 4. Oststeinbek: SmartPLS GmbH. J. Appl. Struct. Equ. Model., August.

Sa’id, M., Wahyu, A. M., Muarifah, R., Qoyyimah, N. R. H., & Noorrizki, R. (2024). Religion and Environment: The Role of Religiosity on Pro-environmental Behavior Among University Students in Indonesia. KnE Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v9i30.17510

Schirato, T., & Danaher, G. (2002). Understanding Bourdieu. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003118305

Seyfi, S., Hall, C., Strzelecka, M., & Font, X. (2025). Gen Z – pioneers or paradox in sustainable tourism? Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 33, 987–1015. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2025.2491702

Shutaleva, A., Martyushev, N., Nikonova, Z., Savchenko, I., Abramova, S., & Novgorodtseva, A. (2021). Environmental Behavior of Youth and Sustainable Development. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010250

Vencatsamy, Beverly. (2024). The world religions paradigm: Why context matters in religious studies. Critical Research on Religion, 12(1), 12–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/20503032241226966

Wijaya, D. I., & Kokchang, P. (2023). Factors Influencing Generation Z’s Pro-Environmental Behavior towards Indonesia’s Energy Transition. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813485

Yusliza, M., Amirudin, A., Rahadi, R. A., Athirah, N. A. N. S., Ramayah, T., Muhammad, Z., Mas, D., Massaro, M., Saputra, J., & Mokhlis, S. (2020). An Investigation of Pro-Environmental Behaviour and Sustainable Development in Malaysia. Sustainability, 12, 7083. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12177083

Zhao, X., & An, H.-S. (2023). Research on the Mechanism of Heterogeneous Corporate Environmental Responsibility in Z-Generation Consumers’ Sustainable Purchase Intention. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310318

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36256/ijrs.v8i1.584