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

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.