dc.contributor.author | Kutywayo, Alison | |
dc.contributor.author | Chersich, Matthew | |
dc.contributor.author | Naidoo, Nicolette P. | |
dc.contributor.author | Scorgie, Fiona | |
dc.contributor.author | Bottoman, Likho | |
dc.contributor.author | Mullick, Saiqa | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2022-08-03T11:46:25Z | |
dc.date.available | 2022-08-03T11:46:25Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2022 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Kutywayo, A., Chersich, M., Naidoo, N.P., Scorgie, F., Bottoman, L. & Mullick, S. 2022. Climate change knowledge, concerns and experiences in secondary school learners in South Africa. Jamba: Journal of disaster risk studies. 14(1):1-7. [http://www.jamba.org.za/index.php/jamba] | en_US |
dc.identifier.issn | 1996-1421 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 2072-845X (Online) | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10394/39717 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v14i1.1162 | |
dc.description.abstract | Climate change poses a major threat to the future of today’s youth. Globally, young people
are at the forefront of climate change activism. Their ability to engage, however, depends
on the level of knowledge of climate change and concern about the topic. We sought to
examine levels of knowledge and concerns about climate change among youth in South
Africa, and their experiences of heat exposure. Ten questions on climate change knowledge,
concerns and experiences were nested within a cross-sectional survey conducted in a cluster
randomised trial among 924 secondary school learners in 14 public schools in low-income
Western Cape areas. Learners’ mean age was 15.8 years and they were predominately
female. While 72.0% of respondents knew that climate change leads to higher temperatures,
only 59.7% agreed that human activity is responsible for climate change, and 58.0% believed
that climate change affects human health. Two thirds (68.7%) said that climate change is a
serious issue and 65.9% indicated action is needed for prevention. Few learners indicated
climate change events had affected them, although many reported difficulties concentrating
during hot weather (72.9%). Female learners had lower knowledge levels than male
learners, but more frequent heat-related symptoms. Learners scoring high on knowledge
questions expressed the most concern about climate change and had the highest heat
impacts. Many youth seem unaware that climate change threatens their future. Heat-related
symptoms are common, likely undermining educational performance, especially as
temperatures escalate. More is needed to mainstream climate change into South African
school curricula. | en_US |
dc.language | English | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | OASIS | en_US |
dc.subject | Climate change | en_US |
dc.subject | Education | en_US |
dc.subject | GAP year | en_US |
dc.subject | Global warming | en_US |
dc.subject | Impact | en_US |
dc.subject | Knowledge | en_US |
dc.subject | Secondary schools | en_US |
dc.subject | South-Africa | en_US |
dc.subject | Youth | en_US |
dc.title | Climate change knowledge, concerns and experiences in secondary school learners in South Africa | en_US |
dc.type | Article | en_US |