Young Barcelonans Understand Sustainability, But They Don’t Put It Into Practice
The findings show understanding and a very positive attitude towards sustainability competencies among students, but only 42% express an intention to act, revealing difficulties in translating this thinking into collective and political action
Through an innovative test aligned with the European Commission, Eduquem+B seeks to find out if we are preparing young people for current sustainability challenges and thus better integrate these competencies within the educational field
The initiative is supported by EADA Business School and is part of the Barcelona+B project, an alliance that brings together companies, institutions, social entities, and citizens to promote a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous Barcelona
Young people in Barcelona value sustainability but show difficulties in transforming these principles into collective and political action. Furthermore, they tend to understand the environmental dimension of sustainability but often overlook the social and human dimensions. These are some of the conclusions of Eduquem+B, an initiative promoted by Barcelona+B (BCN+B) with the academic support of EADA Business School, which has surveyed more than 2,000 students between 16 and 24 years old from 29 educational centers in Barcelona to learn about their sustainability competencies.
The results of Eduquem+B have been drawn from the innovative “Be Ready for Now” test, a 48-question survey based on the sustainability competency framework called “GreenComp” developed by the European Commission. Through it, various trends have been confirmed that show strengths in understanding and attitude among young people in Barcelona, but shortcomings in mobilization and collective action:
- Notable differences between theory and practice: Young people show positive attitudes towards sustainability, but only 42.8% express their intention to Act for Sustainability, indicating difficulties in translating awareness into practical action.
- Strengths in understanding and individual initiative: Students excel in Systems Thinking (69.1%), Promoting Nature (60.6%), and Individual Initiative (56.1%), demonstrating a good knowledge of environmental issues.
- Lack of civic participation: The weakest areas are Political Agency (39.1%) and Collective Action (33.1%), revealing limited coordination and community involvement on the part of students.
In the words of Elena Damiá, Director of Barcelona+B at B Lab Spain, “We still have a long way to go to achieve true sustainable awareness among young people, but we are starting from a very solid foundation. The results of Eduquem+B show that there is interest, sensitivity, and a growing understanding of global challenges. Now the challenge is to transform this knowledge into collective action and real commitment, and this will only be possible if the educational, business, and institutional worlds move forward together. ”
This pioneering initiative is promoted by Barcelona+B, with the academic support of EADA Business School. Barcelona+B has B Lab Spain, EADA Business School, and Ferrer as strategic partners, and it is an alliance that brings together companies, institutions, social entities, and citizens to promote a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous Barcelona. The project is part of the B Corp movement‘s community of change, which works to accelerate sustainable transformation in the city.
According to Federica Massa-Saluzzo, Chief Sustainability Officer at EADA Business School, “this diagnosis comes at a key moment, when sustainability has become a priority to respond to current eco-social and labor challenges. Companies demand professionals capable of integrating this perspective into decision-making, and the educational system is moving forward to respond. That is why it is essential to incorporate programs that help students develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes that foster a way of thinking and acting responsibly towards the planet and society.”
In this context, Eduquem+B consolidates its contribution as a pioneering project that reinforces educational transformation, establishing alliances with high schools, vocational training centers, and universities to integrate sustainability into the curriculum and connect the educational world with impact companies and organizations already working for a more sustainable future.
Among the centers that have participated in Eduquem+B are, for example: EADA Business School, Centro concertado López Vicuña, IES Poblenou, IFEB – Barcelona Business Training Institute, Institut Ferran Tallada, Narcís Monturiol Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology of Barcelona, Salvat Papasseit, ISMB – Barcelona Institute of Security and Mobility, ITAEB – Barcelona Institute of Audiovisual and Performing Arts Techniques, Jesuïtes de Gràcia – Col·legi Kostka, Institut Vall d’Hebron, Vall d’Hebron Health Vocational Training Institute, Barcelona Food Institute, Barcelona Nautical Institute, Escola Betània Patmos, Escola Virolai, and Institut Mare de Déu de la Mercè.
