Assessment of University Students' Awareness Level of War’s Environmental Effects and Other Environmental Issues: A Case Study at the University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen

Abstract

Drinking water pollution, climate change, soil pollution, resource depletion and other environmental issues are serious concerns worldwide. Many countries implement policies and educational programs to enhance environmental awareness in society aiming to achieve environmental sustainability. Developing countries, including Yemen, face significant challenges in raising environmental awareness, and ongoing wars contributed to political instability, economic hardships, weak enforcement of environmental regulations, and limited educational programs causing environmental concerns to be frequently overlooked. The environmental effects of the ongoing war in Yemen are a major concern. Assessing individual’s knowledge of environmental issues possess regarding the environment is essential for establishing the sustainability of a community. This will foster a robust national environmental movement aimed at conserving the environment through the resolution of environmental issues. The present study intends to assess the students’ awareness level toward national environmental issues including “environmental impacts of wars in Yemen” and global environmental issues. The study was conducted among undergraduate and postgraduate students of the University of Science and Technology (USTY), Sana’a, Yemen. The survey covered 407 students from 7 faculties having 30 undergraduate programs and 10 postgraduate programs. The questionnaire consisting of 25 questions to measure the students’ knowledge and awareness level of national and global environmental issues. The study reveals that, around 42.71% of students being aware about national environmental issues while only 29.70% for global environmental issues. The study findings expose that the students' mean awareness level regarding national and global environmental issues falls within level 3, classified as, ‘limited awareness’ indicating that students may be aware of the problem but not aware of its causes and effects. The students’ average awareness level toward national environmental issues are higher than that in global environmental issues. The students’ awareness level for most of the national environmental issue including ‘environmental effects of war’ falls within level 4, classified as ‘moderated awareness’ indicating that students may be aware of the problem and its causes but not aware of its effects while, awareness of global environmental issue varies, with an average fall within level 3, classified as, ‘limited awareness’. On the other hand, female shows higher awareness than male and the students from the Faculty of Medicine shows highest awareness, followed by those from Engineering. As for the academic level, third year students exhibit the highest awareness, followed by second year student. In terms of degree level, postgraduate students show highest awareness than undergraduate students. The results of the study are consistent with related studies pertaining to environmental awareness in Yemen and other developing countries. These findings highlight the necessity of improving environmental education and awareness programs at universities, where environmental understanding empowers students to respond to global environmental challenges and participate in sustainable efforts.