THE ROLE OF STUDENTS IN SHAPING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND AWARENESS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

Environmental education and upbringing have become key components of sustainable development strategies worldwide. Students play a central role in internalizing ecological values, transforming environmental knowledge into behavior, and disseminating sustainable practices within society. This article examines the role of students in the formation of environmental education and upbringing through a comparative analysis of foreign countries and the Republic of Uzbekistan. Drawing on international frameworks, national educational policies, and empirical studies, the research analyzes institutional approaches, curricular integration, pedagogical methods, and student participation models. The findings demonstrate that while foreign countries emphasize student-centered, practice-oriented environmental education, Uzbekistan has made significant progress through curriculum reforms and state programs, though student initiative and experiential learning require further strengthening. The study contributes to understanding how students can function as active agents of ecological culture formation.