Investigation of the Awareness Teacher Candidates’ Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between pre-service teachers' awareness of sustainable development and global climate change, providing significant findings for educational processes. The research was conducted using a descriptive and relational model. The Global Climate Change Awareness Scale (GCCAS) and the Sustainable Development Awareness Scale (SDAS), utilized in the study, are widely referenced measurement tools in the literature and have been validated for reliability and validity in previous studies. Data were collected through an online survey from 355 pre-service teachers selected using a simple random sampling method. The research findings indicate that the mean GCCAS score of pre-service teachers is 50 (moderate level), while the mean SDAS score is 90 (moderate level). According to the correlation analysis results, a moderate, positive, and significant relationship was found between global climate change awareness and sustainable development awareness (r = 0.566, p < 0.05). The strength of this relationship highlights the impact of awareness-raising educational programs on achieving sustainable development goals. Additionally, the findings reveal that female participants have higher awareness levels than male participants, and upper-year students exhibit significantly higher awareness levels compared to lower-year students. This study underscores the importance of implementing educational practices aimed at increasing pre-service teachers’ awareness of sustainable development and climate change.However, since the research was conducted at a single university, the generalizability of the findings is limited. Future studies are recommended to be conducted in different universities and regions. Moreover, it is suggested that further research should examine the impact of practice-based educational programs on sustainable development awareness in greater depth. © 2025, Ankara University. All rights reserved.