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The Impact of Christian Environmental Education: The Case of Catholic Schools in England

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Title: The Impact of Christian Environmental Education: The Case of Catholic Schools in England
Language: English
Authors: Jakub Kowalewski (ORCID 0000-0003-4294-9735), Ruth-Anne Walbank (ORCID 0009-0002-8687-1941), Roland Daw (ORCID 0000-0003-0798-0622)
Source: Journal of Religious Education. 2025 73(3):401-418.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Christianity, Environmental Education, Program Effectiveness, Religious Factors, Foreign Countries, Student Attitudes, Social Responsibility, Self Efficacy
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom (England)
DOI: 10.1007/s40839-025-00268-1
ISSN: 1442-018X
2199-4625
Abstract: What is the impact of Christian environmental education (CEE) on the ecological attitudes of young people? Broadly speaking, there are two opposing narratives about the effectiveness of CEE. While the sceptics accuse Christianity of having a detrimental effect on ecological awareness, the apologists emphasise aspects of Christian teaching capable of positively contributing to environmental education. To test the assumptions of both camps, this study draws on qualitative data from focus groups with students (n = 44) in eight Catholic schools in the North of England. Our findings broadly support the apologetic narrative: CEE in Catholic schools effectively fosters stewardship beliefs, and the concomitant sense of self-efficacy and motivational climate worry. Importantly, our data suggests that young people's self-understanding as stewards of creation is underwritten by a sense that responsibility for the planet is divided and distributed unequally across various individual, collective, and institutional actors. As we demonstrate, such an understanding aligns with Pope Francis's message of "differentiated responsibilities" proposed in the ecological encyclical Laudato Si'.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1498099
Database: ERIC
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jakub+Kowalewski%22">Jakub Kowalewski</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4294-9735">0000-0003-4294-9735</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ruth-Anne+Walbank%22">Ruth-Anne Walbank</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0009-0002-8687-1941">0009-0002-8687-1941</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Roland+Daw%22">Roland Daw</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0798-0622">0000-0003-0798-0622</externalLink>)
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  Data: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
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  Data: 18
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  Data: What is the impact of Christian environmental education (CEE) on the ecological attitudes of young people? Broadly speaking, there are two opposing narratives about the effectiveness of CEE. While the sceptics accuse Christianity of having a detrimental effect on ecological awareness, the apologists emphasise aspects of Christian teaching capable of positively contributing to environmental education. To test the assumptions of both camps, this study draws on qualitative data from focus groups with students (n = 44) in eight Catholic schools in the North of England. Our findings broadly support the apologetic narrative: CEE in Catholic schools effectively fosters stewardship beliefs, and the concomitant sense of self-efficacy and motivational climate worry. Importantly, our data suggests that young people's self-understanding as stewards of creation is underwritten by a sense that responsibility for the planet is divided and distributed unequally across various individual, collective, and institutional actors. As we demonstrate, such an understanding aligns with Pope Francis's message of "differentiated responsibilities" proposed in the ecological encyclical Laudato Si'.
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      – SubjectFull: Environmental Education
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      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
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      – SubjectFull: Religious Factors
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom (England)
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