Human civilization sustainability: A case study of environmental consciousness among Kuala Terengganu Residents

Abstract

Everybody knows that the care for and conservation of the environment is very important in the development of a nation's civilization. In Islam, environmental protection is one of the ummah's most demanding responsibilities. Thus, various acts have been introduced and applied for this purpose. It highlights that while many initiatives and laws have been implemented by both government bodies and NGOs, there are still significant gaps in proper environmental practices among the public. Despite the awareness, there are inconsistencies in translating this knowledge into daily behaviors. Issues like open burning, indiscriminate waste disposal, and improper recycling continue to be common. Therefore, the study focuses on assessing the level of environmental consciousness in Malaysia, particularly in Kuala Terengganu. Understanding the current level of consciousness is crucial, as today's actions determine future sustainability and conservation efforts. The lack of consistent practices could hinder overall environmental preservation efforts, making it harder to achieve broader goals despite existing awareness. The research involves 212 respondents, collected through convenience sampling, with data analyzed using SPSS software. The findings indicated that while there is high consciousness among the people of Kuala Terengganu, their daily practices do not fully align with environmentally friendly behaviors, which could hinder broader conservation goals. This study benefits marketer, businesses and policy makers, which help in improving the strategies, better information dissemination and activities on proper environmental practices.