Program on the Environment

Education about sustainability is crucial for building a generation that is informed, empowered, and motivated to protect the environment. However, formal school curricula often lack sufficient emphasis on environmental education, leaving gaps in student knowledge and engagement. There is also a strong sense of eco-anxiety amongst younger people who feel they are powerless when it comes to fighting climate change. Sustainability Ambassadors (SA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to rapidly advancing a sustainable future, works to fill this gap and help people get involved by supporting high school students in creating videos and digital content on sustainability efforts and environmental action. As part of my internship with SA, I produced educational videos for their website and original drawings/ diagrams for use in class lessons. For my research project, I analyzed the effectiveness of different videos on the SA’s social media platforms by tracking metrics such as number of views and likes. By comparing these factors with video aspects such as length and overall tone, I identified key characteristics that contribute to higher audience engagement. Findings suggest that videos with charismatic actors, a fast pace, and lively music tended to perform better. These results provide actionable insights for improving future sustainability content created by student ambassadors. This research highlights the importance of strategic digital communication in youth-focused environmental education and demonstrates how targeted storytelling can help foster greater awareness, involvement, and optimism among young people. Ultimately, improving the reach and effectiveness of sustainability education materials can help address eco-anxiety and inspire collective environmental action.