Evaluating The Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Environmental Awareness and Behavior Among Secondary School Students

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread changes in daily life, including temporary reductions in activities that harm the environment. During this period, environmental organizations and governments-initiated campaigns to promote environmental awareness, hoping to leverage these unique circumstances to foster long-term behavior change. However, the sustainability of these behavior changes, particularly among young people, remains unclear. This study investigates the effectiveness of environmental awareness campaigns conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown and their impact on the environmental behaviors of secondary school students in three Moroccan cities: Tangier, Fez, and Sefrou. By surveying 433 students and employing chi-square analysis, the study reveals significant regional differences in the perceived impact of these campaigns, with Tangier showing the highest confidence in positive post-pandemic behavioral changes. The findings also highlight the re-emergence of negative behaviors, particularly towards water resources, post-lockdown, underscoring the need for continuous environmental education. This research fills a critical gap in understanding how temporary environmental improvements during a global crisis can be translated into long-lasting behavioral changes among youth in developing countries. The study's insights contribute to the development of more effective, localized strategies for promoting environmental sustainability in the post-pandemic era.