My understanding is that ‘’awareness’’ is a sub-element of ‘’consciousness’’.

Indeed, a plant has no neurone/ no brain. But some react according to incoming information (root from other species / ‘’smell’’ of damaged leafs from other plant / …).

A biotop receiving new information (climate change / pollution / …) will see some plant groups to disappear / suffer >>> give advantage to some mutations >> impact on animals too.

The whole earth is a Mega-Biotop, which interacts with internal (volcanos / continents drifts / …) and external elements (Sun / meteores / …)

With this logic, the whole universe is somehow aware/ conscious.

Still, even with a brain and neurones, the consciousness remains emerging from matter >>> exit any idea if free will ! :-)