Knowledge of the SDGs as a Driver of Sustainable Attitudes in Schools

Knowledge of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) is a major challenge today, as climate change is now a given. However, care must be taken to make the right choices that will lead to change and a balance of interests among the various stakeholders. Schools have a fundamental role to play, with a vision that must look to the future. This study aims to define how individual characteristics and perceptions of educational experience influence awareness and commitment to sustainability principles. To this end, an online survey was conducted in Italy involving 556 participants. The results show that greater knowledge of the SDGs is strongly correlated with greater environmental awareness, recognition of the active role of schools in sustainability, and a greater propensity to adopt sustainable behaviors. Furthermore, it emerges that the perception of being well informed about environmental issues and support for concrete sustainability actions are key factors for SDG awareness. From a practical perspective, the findings provide useful insights for school managers and policymakers on how to promote sustainability-oriented educational practices and strengthen the integration of SDG-related knowledge into school management and decision-making processes. This study offers food for thought on the link between schools and related educational models and the level of knowledge that leads to sustainable development.