IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i16p7261-d1722140.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Attitudes of Generation Z Women to Sustainable Development—Aspects of SPET

Author

Listed:
  • Radoslaw Wisniewski

    (School of Business, VIZJA University, 59 Okopowa St., 01-043 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Tomasz Kownacki

    (School of Social Sciences, VIZJA University, 59 Okopowa St., 01-043 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Aneta Nowakowska-Krystman

    (School of Social Sciences, VIZJA University, 59 Okopowa St., 01-043 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Anna Wierzchowska

    (School of Social Sciences, VIZJA University, 59 Okopowa St., 01-043 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Piotr Daniluk

    (Faculty of Security Sciences, General Tadeusz Kosciuszko Military University of Land Forces, 109 Czajkowskiego St., 51-147 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Krzysztof Puwalski

    (Independent Researcher, 72 Skrzyneckiego St., 04-563 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

Climate change and environmental degradation require inclusive and multidimensional strategies, in which women from Generation Z are emerging as key actors. This study explores how female university students from this generation perceive and prioritize social, political, economic, and technological dimensions of sustainable development, with a focus on respondents from Europe. A structured survey instrument, based on a SPET model (Social, Political, Economic, Technological), was administered to 834 female students at a highly internationalized university in Poland. The questionnaire was available in Polish and English to account for linguistic and cultural variation within the Western civilizational context. Quantitative analysis revealed that the political dimension—particularly international cooperation and legal regulations—was viewed as the most critical for environmental protection, followed by technological innovation in energy and resource management. Social and economic factors received relatively less emphasis, with skepticism toward consumer-level behavior change and shared economy models. This study offers a meaningful contribution to understanding gender- and generation-specific perspectives on environmental responsibility. It also provides a foundation for the development of socially grounded, culturally sensitive strategies in sustainability education and policymaking, with relevance for both academic researchers and public stakeholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Radoslaw Wisniewski & Tomasz Kownacki & Aneta Nowakowska-Krystman & Anna Wierzchowska & Piotr Daniluk & Krzysztof Puwalski, 2025. "The Attitudes of Generation Z Women to Sustainable Development—Aspects of SPET," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-35, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:16:p:7261-:d:1722140
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/16/7261/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/16/7261/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Radoslaw Wisniewski & Piotr Daniluk & Tomasz Kownacki & Aneta Nowakowska-Krystman, 2022. "Energy System Development Scenarios: Case of Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-31, April.
    2. Amartya Sen & Joseph Stiglitz & Jean-Paul Fitoussi, 2010. "Mis-measuring our lives : why GDP doesn't add up?," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03415632, HAL.
    3. Abdul Karim Feroz & Hangjung Zo & Ananth Chiravuri, 2021. "Digital Transformation and Environmental Sustainability: A Review and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-20, February.
    4. Chiara Lodi & Agnese Sacchi & Francesco Vidoli, 2025. "Gender politics, environmental behaviours, and local territories: evidence from Italian municipalities," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 74(2), pages 1-33, June.
    5. Amartya Sen & Joseph Stiglitz & Jean-Paul Fitoussi, 2010. "Mis-measuring our lives : why GDP doesn't add up?," Post-Print hal-03415632, HAL.
    6. Hunjra, Ahmed Imran & Bouri, Elie & Azam, Muhammad & Azam, Rauf I & Dai, Jiapeng, 2024. "Economic growth and environmental sustainability in developing economies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PA).
    7. Apurva Goel & Snehal Masurkar & Girish R. Pathade, 2024. "An Overview of Digital Transformation and Environmental Sustainability: Threats, Opportunities, and Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-36, December.
    8. Radoslaw Wisniewski & Aneta Nowakowska-Krystman & Tomasz Kownacki & Piotr Daniluk, 2024. "The Impact of the Rule of Law on Energy Policy in European Union Member States," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-31, February.
    9. Wisniewski, Radoslaw & Brzezicka, Justyna, 2020. "Translocality on the real estate market: A new extended approach," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    10. Michał Bernard Pietrzak & Bartłomiej Igliński & Wojciech Kujawski & Paweł Iwański, 2021. "Energy Transition in Poland—Assessment of the Renewable Energy Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-23, April.
    11. Agata Balińska & Ewa Jaska & Agnieszka Werenowska, 2024. "Environmentally and Socially Responsible Behavior of Women from Generation Z in the Context of Tourist Activity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-13, June.
    12. Joanna Sawicka & Elżbieta Marcinkowska, 2023. "Environmental CSR and the Purchase Declarations of Generation Z Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-14, August.
    13. Dalia Streimikiene, 2023. "Use of Nudges for Promotion of Sustainable Energy Consumption in Households," Contemporary Economics, University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw., vol. 17(1), March.
    14. Helena Ranängen & Mathias Cöster & Raine Isaksson & Rickard Garvare, 2018. "From Global Goals and Planetary Boundaries to Public Governance—A Framework for Prioritizing Organizational Sustainability Activities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-26, August.
    15. Radoslaw Wisniewski & Piotr Daniluk & Aneta Nowakowska-Krystman & Tomasz Kownacki, 2022. "Critical Success Factors of the Energy Sector Security Strategy: The Case of Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-27, August.
    16. Árpád Papp-Váry & Diána Pacsi & Zoltán Szabó, 2023. "Sustainable Aspects of Startups among Generation Z—Motivations and Uncertainties among Students in Higher Educations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-22, November.
    17. James Meadowcroft, 2000. "Sustainable Development: a New(ish) Idea for a New Century?," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 48(2), pages 370-387, May.
    18. Silvia Puiu & Milica Velickovic, 2025. "Qualitative research on the perceptions of Romanian and Serbian entrepreneurs of SMEs regarding circular economy," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Piotr Daniluk & Radoslaw Wisniewski & Aneta Nowakowska-Krystman & Tomasz Kownacki & Dawid Wiśniewski, 2025. "Exploring Imperatives in Generation Z’s Approach to the Future of the Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-31, August.
    2. Heejung Park & Annie Pei‐I. Yu, 2025. "Beyond Economics: Unraveling the Grit-Capability Nexus in Enhancing Quality of Life Across Economic Divides," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 20(2), pages 543-571, April.
    3. M. Mani & H. Pollitt, 2024. "Towards a Green and Resilient Thailand," World Bank Publications - Reports 42397, The World Bank Group.
    4. Felix Johan Pot & Eva Heinen & Taede Tillema, 2025. "Sufficient access? Activity participation, perceived accessibility and transport-related social exclusion across spatial contexts," Transportation, Springer, vol. 52(4), pages 1679-1707, August.
    5. chen, shuning & Managi, Shunsuke, 2024. "Tracing the Evolution of Natural Capital in Global Sustainability Metrics: The Advance of Inclusive Wealth," MPRA Paper 122597, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 05 Nov 2024.
    6. Allin Paul, 2015. "Official Statistics on Personal Well-Being: Some Reflections on the Development and use of Subjective Well-Being Measures in the UK," Statistics in Transition New Series, Statistics Poland, vol. 16(3), pages 397-408, September.
    7. Schlör, Holger & Venghaus, Sandra, 2022. "Measuring resilience in the food-energy-water nexus based on ethical values and trade relations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    8. Radoslaw Wisniewski & Piotr Daniluk & Aneta Nowakowska-Krystman & Tomasz Kownacki, 2022. "Critical Success Factors of the Energy Sector Security Strategy: The Case of Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-27, August.
    9. Malgorzata Pol & Stanislaw Czaja, 2021. "The Methods of Measuring the Well-being at the Level of Local Self-government Communities," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3 - Part ), pages 197-207.
    10. Silva, Rui, 2024. "Well-being foundations of populism in Europe," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    11. Ramaz Otinashvili & Shota Veshapidze & Gia Zoidze, 2023. "Impact Of Economic Crime On The Sustainable Development Of The State," Three Seas Economic Journal, Publishing house "Baltija Publishing", vol. 4(1).
    12. Wang, Mengmeng & Zhou, Tao, 2023. "Does smart city implementation improve the subjective quality of life? Evidence from China," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    13. Aneta Nowakowska-Krystman & Marek Sośnicki & Beata Burchert-Perlińska, 2022. "Globalne uwarunkowania funkcjonowania systemu energetycznego," Nowoczesne Systemy Zarządzania. Modern Management Systems, Military University of Technology, Faculty of Security, Logistics and Management, Institute of Organization and Management, issue 4, pages 111-130.
    14. Rudolf Wirawan & Janet J. McIntyre-Mills & Mphatheleni Makaulule & Patricia Vhahangwele Lethole & Enid Pitsoane & Akwasi Arko-Achemfuor & Norma R. A. Romm, 2023. "Together We Can Grow: Resourcing the Commons Through Pathways to Wellbeing," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 36(5), pages 641-690, October.
    15. Onil Banerjee & Martin Cicowiez & Žiga Malek & Peter H. Verburg & Renato Vargas & Sean Goodwin & Kenneth J. Bagstad & Josué Ávila Murillo, 2024. "Banking on strong rural livelihoods and the sustainable use of natural capital in post-conflict Colombia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(10), pages 26517-26538, October.
    16. Alberti, Manfredi & Asso, Pier Francesco, 2025. "Hazel Kyrk And The Rise Of Empirical Research In Interwar America," Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, vol. 47(2), pages 164-186, June.
    17. Nam, Hyun-Jung & Ryu, Doojin, 2023. "FDI and human development: The role of governance, ODA, and national competitiveness," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    18. Aleksandra Łuczak & Klara Cermakova & Sławomir Kalinowski & Eduard Hromada & Oskar Szczygieł, 2025. "“The future depends on what we do in the present” - Development positions of EU countries by levels of sustainable development and living standards," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 20(7), pages 1-28, July.
    19. Marek Kapera & Martyna Kobus, 2024. "The Gini and Mean Log Deviation Indices of Multivariate Inequality of Opportunity," Econometrics, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, April.
    20. repec:ehl:wpaper:119284 is not listed on IDEAS
    21. Peter Mayerhofer, 2022. "Vorarlbergs Wirtschaft im europäischen Konkurrenzumfeld. Bericht zur internationalen Wettbewerbsfähigkeit 2022," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 69424.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:16:p:7261-:d:1722140. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.