Following our purpose, it was necessary to instil in the students a sense of environmental stewardship, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills and encouraging ethical decision-making. By making theory and practical activities about sustainability and the environment into the school curricula, we have had at the end of the project, students and families environmentally conscious and responsible. We have applied an educational approach to the coastal areas issues by making laboratory activities with experience outside and inside the school to involve students and teachers in the analysis and formulation of strategies to preserve and protect the biodiversity of our coasts. Moreover, we have supported the change in pro-environmental attitudes, a sense of environmental responsibility among students, and civic engagement against the bad management of public things, impacts, and pollution from human activities. We do not forget the participation of the students in decision-making processes and green lifestyles.
The coastal areas have been theatres of Real Estate business activities, constructions to satisfy tourism demand, and pollution coming from anthropic impacts. Some 40% of the world’s human population live not far from the coast. This means that about 3 billion people rely to some extent on coastal and marine ecosystems, habitats and resources for food, building materials, building sites, and agricultural and recreational areas while utilising coastal areas as a dumping ground for sewage, garbage, and toxic wastes. The pressure on the natural resources of the coastal areas is increasing, due to growing urbanisation, industrialisation, and transportation. Industrial development has altered, disturbed and destroyed coastal ecosystems, including sensitive habitats. This scenario requires education on the environment in the school curricula to foster a generation of environmentally conscious and responsible citizens. By understanding the intricacies of climate change, pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, students become conscious of their actions, and we can consider it the first step to promote a culture of environmental responsibility in the young generation.