Early Sustainability Consciousness in Primary Education: Insights from the Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire

This paper investigates whether sustainability consciousness is already developed in the final years of primary education. The study involved n = 1532 students in grades 5 and 6 from n = 48 primary schools in the Epirus region of Greece during the 2024–2025 school year. To assess their knowingness, attitudes, and behaviors related to sustainable development, we used the Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire, which was reverse-translated into Greek and tested in a pilot study for age appropriateness. Reliability was examined, and all three subscales—knowingness, attitudes, and behavior—showed statistically significant positive correlations. Students generally reported high levels of sustainability consciousness, with girls consistently scoring higher across all categories. The findings highlight the potential to foster sustainability-related values and practices early in education, providing original evidence from Greek primary schools and expanding the instrument’s international use among younger learners.