Exploring Environmental Justice and Climate Awareness in Italy: Citizen Perspectives on Sustainability and Policy

Understanding the extent of community awareness and engagement regarding government efforts concerning the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies is vital for identifying areas where effective interventions can be applied. This study aimed to achieve this by conducting an online quantitative survey among Italian citizens over three months in 2023. 231 Italian respondents participated in the survey. The results of the study show that despite the growing urgency of environmental chal lenges, there persists a significant gap between European citizens’ knowledge and their participation in shaping these crucial policies. There is a notable disparity between citizen awareness of climate change and their limited understanding of European initiatives designed to tackle these issues. While public awareness of climate change has increased in recent years, many individuals remain unaware of the specific plans and policies that the European Union (EU) has implemented or proposed to address this global challenge. This gap in knowledge highlights a crucial communication and education challenge. Effective communication strategies are needed to bridge this gap and ensure that citizens are informed about EU climate action initiatives, such as the European Green Deal and related policies.