Understanding the factors that influence young people's pro-environmental behaviors is essential for promoting environmental sustainability within higher education contexts. This study examined the extent to which university students' environmental consciousness and sensitivity, their environmental awareness in the context of sustainable development, and their observation of adults' environmental behaviors predicted participation in pro-environmental behaviors. The study sample consisted of 170 university students (127 female, 43 male) from Turkey between the ages of 18 and 29 (M = 22.05, SD = 1.85). Data were collected through an online form, and participants were recruited via snowball sampling. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. The measurement instruments included the University Students' Environmental Consciousness Sensitivity Questionnaire, the Environmental Awareness Scale in the Context of Sustainable Development, and the Adults' Environmental Behavior Observation Scale. To test the hypotheses, a multiple linear regression analysis was conducted. The findings revealed that university students' participation in pro-environmental behaviors was significantly predicted by their environmental consciousness and sensitivity, their environmental awareness regarding sustainable development, and their observation of adults' environmental behaviors (F(3,166) = 36.12, p < .001). Together, these variables accounted for 38.4% of the variance in pro-environmental behaviors (Adj. R² = .384). These results indicate that university students' environmental attitudes and behaviors are strongly associated with their observation of adults' environmental practices. In other words, adults appear to play a role-modeling function that reinforces environmentally friendly behaviors among young people. The findings further suggest that enhancing environmental sustainability awareness and supporting positive environmental role models are critical strategies for strengthening pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors among university students. It is also recommended that universities expand their programs to raise environmental consciousness and promote environmental awareness initiatives. Such efforts would constitute important steps toward reinforcing young people's environmentally responsible attitudes and behaviors, thereby contributing to broader sustainability goals.