Evaluation Of Differences In Environmental Awareness Among Students From 10 Provinces In Sumatra Using The PLS-SEM Approach

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the factors influencing environmental awareness among young people on the island of Sumatra. The research focus is directed toward students from ten provinces in Sumatra who are studying at the State Forestry Vocational School in Pekanbaru. The research method used is a quantitative approach with a descriptive-comparative design. Data was collected using a Likert-scale questionnaire that measured three dimensions of environmental awareness: knowledge, attitudes, and pro-environmental behavior. Data analysis was performed using Smart PLS 3 to identify differences between provinces and multiple linear regression to determine the factors that significantly influence environmental awareness. The research results indicate that environmental education factors, geographical background, local culture, and family influence significantly contribute to students' level of environmental awareness. These findings confirm the importance of integrating environmental values into the forestry education curriculum and the role of families and communities in instilling pro-environmental behavior in young generations. The implications of this research are directed toward designing contextual and local wisdom-based environmental education strategies on the island of Sumatra.