While more than half (53%) of school pupils say that they are ‘anxious’ about climate change, girls show higher levels of anxiety than boys, according to a new study by University College London (UCL).
The study, published by the UCL Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education, found that more than a third (36%) of students said that they worried ‘a lot’ or ‘all the time’ about what the world will be like in the future, with 50% saying that they worry ‘a little’.
Girls (44%) displayed significantly higher levels of concern than boys (27%), it found.
When asked if they believed adults were doing enough to look after the environment, just 16% of school pupils agreed.
The research also found that children that hailed from lower socio-economic groups were ‘less likely to enjoy or value learning about climate change than their more advantaged peers’.
Evidence base
“There is very little in-depth understanding of students’ perspectives of, and aspirations for climate change and sustainability education,” commented Professor Nicola Walshe (IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education & Society), executive director of UCL Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education. “These results form an incredibly important evidence base that we can use to better support schools and teachers.”
Some 2,429 students were surveyed between March and May 2024 for the research. The students were aged between 11 and 14, and hailed from 30 English schools.
The report highlighted a lack of engagement with climate-focused careers guidance in schools. According to the survey, 31% of students believed that learning about climate change and sustainability could lead to job opportunities, and an even smaller percentage (17%) showed interest in pursuing a sustainability-related career.
Among less advantaged students, only 14% envisioned themselves entering a career linked to sustainability.
Desire to learn more
Students did express a strong desire to learn more about climate change and sustainability, however, particularly if it involved spending more time outside the classroom and in nature, with 73% supporting this approach. However, the report also noted gender differences in the topics that interested students.
“Three quarters of the girls surveyed wanted to learn about how climate change impacts human health and wellbeing, compared to 60% of boys,” Walshe added.
“We know climate anxiety is higher among girls, so a more holistic climate change education that addresses a broader range of areas, including health and wellbeing, may help mitigate young people’s worries.” Read more here.
