What is that thing called climate change? An investigation into the understanding of climate change by seventh-grade students

Abstract

This paper presents findings from research on students’ general environmental concerns, experiences, beliefs, attitudes, worldviews, values, and actions relating to climate change. Data was gathered from a sample of 646 seventh-grade students. The findings indicate that students identify climate change as a consequence of modern life. They consider the issue personally important but they also state that there is nothing they can do about the issue. Since they identify their primary sources of information as media and education, climate change should be addressed in national curricula as well as on media to provide an accurate understanding and awareness.

Keywords:

• climate change
• environmental concerns
• perceptions
• seventh-grade students

Acknowledgements

The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the MEUP.

Additional information

Funding

The research reported in this manuscript was supported by the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning (MEUP), “The Impacts of Climate Change and Raising Awareness about Adapting the Climate Change” project.