Climate Change
The other climate crisis
Climate change poses an unparalleled test for humanity. The burden will fall disproportionately on the young generation. How well do young people understand the challenge?
We conducted a survey among 15–24 and 40+ year-olds across 21 countries to explore how childhood is changing.
Read more about the surveyAnswer the question above to learn more about the changing nature of childhood.
Return to the questionOn average, only 80% of young people say they've heard of climate change.
Answer the question above to learn more about the changing nature of childhood.
Return to the questionOn average, only 56% chose the correct definition of climate change: a rise in average world temperatures and more extreme weather events resulting from human activities.
The remainder think climate change refers to seasonal changes in temperature.
It's clear that climate change awareness among young people globally is far from complete.
This is especially true in poorer countries.
On average, 77% of young people in high-income countries say they have heard of climate change and are able to define it correctly.
The share is just 23% on average in low and lower-middle income countries.
A lack of understanding about climate change is not a problem unique to the young.
On average, older people fared no better on these questions.
A failure to comprehend the climate crisis means an inability to respond to it. This is a major constraint to effective global action.