Despite an increasing emphasis at school and in the media on the causes and effects of global climate change, most American high school students don’t adequately understand the issue, according to a national telephone survey of 900 students.
Even in a year when Gore’s global-warming documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” is nominated for an Oscar, the average high school student believes climate change has no consequences for them in their lifetime, according to the survey. The average high school student fails a quiz on the causes and consequences of climate change.
The survey also found that home life influences students’ “pro-environment” behavior much more strongly than school.
And whether they rely on science class or the media for information, students have the same level of knowledge about the issue. There was no difference in what students know about climate change regardless of where they get their information. Schools don’t seem to be teaching many specifics about climate change.
In addition to a limited understanding of the science behind climate change, most students don’t see themselves at risk: Only 28 percent believe it’s very likely that climate change will affect them personally in their lifetimes. Despite these findings, 70 percent think the U.S. should start reducing emissions of pollutants contributing to climate change rather than wait for more evidence about the benefits of reducing greenhouse gases.
Yet only 20 percent say a candidate’s position on climate change would strongly influence whether they would vote for the candidate.
Those who discuss environmental issues informally, with friends and family, are 16 percent more likely to believe the U.S. should mandate the reduction of greenhouse gases.
Other findings include:
– While only 28 percent of students surveyed believe they are personally affected by climate change in their lifetime, African-American students are 12 percent more likely than those in any other ethnic or racial background to believe that climate change will personally affect them.
– Students who are not affiliated with any religious denomination know more about climate change, and are 13 percent more likely to believe the U.S. should reduce greenhouse gases.
– Discussing environmental issues in school doesn’t affect students’ pro-environment actions; but those who discuss the environment with their friends, informally, are more likely to practice pro-environment behavior, know more about the causes and consequences of climate change, and are 16 percent more likely to believe the U.S. should mandate the reduction of greenhouse gases.
– African-American students answer correctly fewer questions about climate change than students of other races or ethnicities. This difference holds after controlling for additional characteristics such as parents’ education, gender, and political preference, among others.
– High-school students who think it is very likely that they will experience the effects of climate change in their lives are 17 percent more likely to state the U.S. should start reduce greenhouse gasses now than their counterparts. However, how students perceive climate change risks is uncorrelated with their efforts to engage in pro-environment behaviors.
– Although 66 percent of the high school students in the sample agree that humans have the right to modify the natural environment, above two-thirds of the respondents think that the earth’s resources are limited and mankind is severely abusing the environment.
– Almost 83 percent of the respondents strongly agree with the statement that we must consider the impact that our actions will have for the welfare of future generations versus 70 percent who strongly agree with the statement that we must consider how our actions influence the well-being of people living in other countries. Although there is no systematic difference in pro-environment efforts based on concern for future generations, those who claim to care about people in other countries engage in more pro-environment behaviors then their counterparts.
The poll can be viewed at:
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