Bridging the Gap: Confronting Low Environmental Literacy amid Escalating Ecological Crises in the ASEAN Region

Abstract

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is confronting intensifying ecological crises—climate-related disasters, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and waste mismanagement—yet environmental literacy across the region remains worryingly low. This paper investigates the paradox of high exposure to environmental risks but limited ecological understanding and action. Using a mixed-methods design across eight ASEAN member states, the study combines a 1,964-respondent survey on environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors with interviews involving educators, community leaders, officials, and youth, plus content analysis of curricula, media, and policy documents. Results show that average knowledge scores hover just above 50%, with wide disparities by country, education level, and age; attitudes are generally pro-environment, but self-reported behaviors lag, revealing a persistent knowledge–action gap. Qualitative data identify five reinforcing drivers of low literacy: superficial or fragmented environmental education, socio-economic inequalities, erosion of traditional ecological values, misinformation and weak environmental journalism, and limited policy integration and political will. Consequences include unsustainable everyday practices, continued ecological degradation, reduced disaster resilience, and weak public engagement and accountability. The paper argues for a shift from awareness-raising to action-oriented environmental literacy, recommending curriculum reform, teacher capacity-building, culturally grounded and community-based programs, stronger media and information ecosystems, and cross-sectoral policy coordination at national and ASEAN levels.