Table 1.

Description of sustainability challenges in student reflections

TopicDescriptionTop keywords
Food and agricultureEating a plant-based diet verses eating meat, farming/agriculture and sustainability, dietary habits (personal, family and experiences)Vegetarian, meat, food, vegan, plant-based diet, farming, agriculture, farm, protein and diets
Climate changeImpacts of climate change, personal habits and carbon footprint, companies and carbon footprint, solutions to climate change, greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestrationClimate change, carbon sequestration, emissions, greenhouse gases and carbon footprint
Urban/rural divideGrowing up in a city verses a town (preferences, experiences), impacts of cities verses towns on sustainability, suburban living and sustainabilityCity, town, urban areas, living, rural, small town, suburb and community
Waste and recyclingRealities of recycling, waste production the USA verses other countries, reusable products and waste/recycling habits (personal, family and experiences)Waste, recycling, food, reduce, products, consumption and plastic
Energy useEnergy use and climate change, energy use and habits (personal, family and experiences) and sustainable energy sources versus non-sustainable energy sourcesEnergy use, solar energy, oil, renewable energy, power usage, coal, fossil fuels and nuclear energy
Water resourcesAccess to water resources and supply, water use in different systems (agriculture, human living), pollution and waterWater, water use, bottles, conservation, reusable, food, waste and river
Transportation infrastructureImpact of transportation systems on climate change and sustainability, public transportation use and accessibility in different areas and alternative vehicles (electric cars and biking)Transportation, roads, cars, public transportation, electric vehicles, city, town, vehicle, bike, traffic, gas and fuel
ConsumerismConsumption culture (consumerism) and sustainability, sustainable products, buying habits (personal, family and experiences), sustainability and consumer brandsConsumers, clothes, products, sustainable products, buying, shopping, brands and businesses
Human–nature interactionsImpacts of human infrastructure on biodiversity, nature and wildlife (general, personal and experiences), biodiversity loss of species (plant and animal) and appreciation for nature (personal and experiences)Biodiversity loss, habitats, habitat loss, wildlife, humans, hunting, biodiversity, nature, species, animals, fishing and invasive species
Sustainable designSustainable design and architecture, green building (or green design), sustainable planning and green citiesArchitecture, sustainable design, building, green design and green building
Class (income levels)Relationship of class and experience of climate change and accessibility of resources (water, diverse diets and public transportation)Low-income, Middle-class, affluent, upper class and poor
OverpopulationLow-income countries and overpopulation, access to resources, overpopulation and climate change and/or sustainabilityOverpopulation, rights, countries, social, cities and birthrate
Source(s): Table created by authors

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