Jarosław Wenancjusz Przybytniowski, Paweł Dziekański, Perception of Green Transformation. Among Students in the Świętokrzyskie Region

Contemporary science and global policy unanimously recognize that the climate crisis, loss of biodiversity, and increasing environmental degradation constitute unprecedented civilizational challenges. In the face of these threats, the concept of green transformation (Green Transition), understood as a fundamental restructuring of social, economic, and technological systems toward a sustainable low-emission economy and circular economy, has become a global imperative. This process, whose frameworks are defined, among others, by the European Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), requires coordinated actions at all levels – from international agreements to local communities.
Although the goals of the green transition are universal (e.g., decarbonization and achieving climate neutrality), the effectiveness of their implementation depends decisively on reception and implementation at the regional and local levels. At this level, macroeconomic and political strategies collide with specific social, economic, and cultural conditions, as well as bureaucratic and financial barriers. In the regional context, local awareness and the perception of challenges related to the transformation thus become key elements. Understanding the role of human capital in adapting to ecological changes requires precise measurement tools. In studies on the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, the authors emphasize the utility of taxonomic methods in assessing ecological order and the spatial diversification of the natural environment (Przybytniowski, Dziekański, 2019).
In this monograph, it is assumed that academic youth – as future management personnel, the driving force of innovation, and a key segment of civil society – represents a critical group for the green transformation process. Students, being recipients and potential creators of new technologies and social models, have the greatest influence on shaping regional resilience to negative phenomena such as demographic shrinkage or economic regression spirals. Understanding their perspective is essential for designing effective educational and strategic interventions at the regional level.
In this context, the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship serves as an interesting research field. It is a region with specific economic conditions (including mining and construction industries), social and demographic characteristics, where transformational challenges may be perceived differently than in metropolitan regions.
The main objective of this study is a comprehensive identification and analysis of the perception of green transformation challenges among students from the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. The study focuses on assessing their level of awareness, identifying key transformational barriers and opportunities, and understanding how students link global ecological imperatives with local implications in their region.
Achieving the main objective translates into the following specific research questions (R.Q.):
1. R.Q. global trends and local interpretation – how are global green transformation trends understood and interpreted by students from the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, taking into account their local experiences and informational context?
2. R.Q. Access to knowledge and ecological education – what are the key barriers and facilitators in access to knowledge about ecological transformation for students in the region, and how does this affect their attitudes and level of ecological education?
3. R.Q. costs, benefits, and social consequences – how do students assess the costs and benefits associated with implementing green transformation, and do they recognize its impact on potential social inequalities in their region?
4. R.Q. local dimension and regional resilience – how do students perceive the role of local actions and initiatives in transformation, particularly in the context of building regional resilience to negative demographic and economic phenomena?
5. R.Q. linking challenges – to what extent do students identify a direct connection between global ecological trends and specific local challenges (e.g., air quality, waste management), and how does this perception shape their readiness for engagement?

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