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How do young people engage with climate change? The role of knowledge, values, message framing, and trusted communicators

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  • Adam Corner
  • Olga Roberts
  • Sybille Chiari
  • Sonja Völler
  • Elisabeth S. Mayrhuber
  • Sylvia Mandl
  • Kate Monson

Abstract

Despite several decades of research on more effectively communicating climate change to the general public, there is only a limited amount of knowledge about how young people engage with an issue that will shape and define their generation. We provide a thorough review of international studies in this area, drawing on survey data and qualitative research. The review is organized into two main sections. The first briefly situates young people's engagement with climate change relative to other concerns and examines levels of awareness, concern and ‘scepticism’ among this age group. The second focuses on four key determinants of effective climate change communication and assess whether young people differ in any appreciable way from research findings relating to the general population. The four factors are the role of values and worldviews in determining climate change views; the efficacy of ‘information‐based’ interventions; the ‘psychological distance’ of climate change and message framing; and the role of trusted messengers. In the concluding section we discuss the implications for engaging young people more effectively and explore possibilities for future research. WIREs Clim Change 2015, 6:523–534. doi: 10.1002/wcc.353 This article is categorized under: Perceptions, Behavior, and Communication of Climate Change > Behavior Change and Responses

Suggested Citation

  • Adam Corner & Olga Roberts & Sybille Chiari & Sonja Völler & Elisabeth S. Mayrhuber & Sylvia Mandl & Kate Monson, 2015. "How do young people engage with climate change? The role of knowledge, values, message framing, and trusted communicators," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 6(5), pages 523-534, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:wirecc:v:6:y:2015:i:5:p:523-534
    DOI: 10.1002/wcc.353
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    Cited by:

    1. Paul Vare, 2021. "Exploring the Impacts of Student-Led Sustainability Projects with Secondary School Students and Teachers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Andrea Amado & Koji Kotani & Makoto Kakinaka & Shunsuke Managi, 2023. "Carbon tax for cleaner-energy transition: A vignette experiment in Japan," Working Papers SDES-2023-6, Kochi University of Technology, School of Economics and Management, revised Oct 2023.
    3. Gabriele Prati & Iana Tzankova & Cinzia Albanesi & Elvira Cicognani, 2022. "Longitudinal Predictors of Perceived Climate Change Importance and Worry among Italian Youths: A Machine Learning Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-19, November.
    4. Katharina Voltmer & Maria von Salisch, 2023. "Promoting Subjective Well-Being and a Sustainable Lifestyle in Children and Youth by Strengthening Their Personal Psychological Resources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
    5. Annesi, Nora & Battaglia, Massimo & Gragnani, Patrizia & Iraldo, Fabio, 2021. "Integrating the 2030 Agenda at the municipal level: Multilevel pressures and institutional shift," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    6. Gloria Anabel Cornejo & Pablo Lamiño & Bernardo Trejos, 2024. "Climate Change: Relationship between Knowledge and Perception in Students of an Agricultural-Based University in Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-16, June.
    7. Praneeta Mudaliar & Meaghan McElroy & Jacob C. Brenner, 2022. "The futility and fatality of incremental action: motivations and barriers among undergraduates for environmental action that matters," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 12(1), pages 133-148, March.
    8. Veronika Deisenrieder & Susanne Kubisch & Lars Keller & Johann Stötter, 2020. "Bridging the Action Gap by Democratizing Climate Change Education—The Case of k.i.d.Z.21 in the Context of Fridays for Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-19, February.
    9. Angela Maria D’Uggento & Alfonso Piscitelli & Nunziata Ribecco & Germana Scepi, 2023. "Perceived climate change risk and global green activism among young people," Statistical Methods & Applications, Springer;Società Italiana di Statistica, vol. 32(4), pages 1167-1195, October.
    10. Cifuentes-Faura, Javier & Faura-Martínez, Ursula & Lafuente-Lechuga, Matilde, 2024. "Evaluation of the concerns of Spanish university students in the face of current major challenges," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    11. Sari Verachtert, 2023. "Family congruence in sustainability attitudes and behaviour; an analysis of a household survey in Belgium," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(11), pages 12467-12493, November.
    12. Ricardo Ramos & Maria José Rodrigues & Isilda Rodrigues, 2022. "Children’s Perception of Climate Change in North-Eastern Portugal," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    13. Niranjan Devkota & Ram Kumar Phuyal, 2017. "An Analysis of Nepalese Youth Understanding Level on Climate Change," Asian Journal of Economic Modelling, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 5(3), pages 342-353, September.
    14. Stephanie Collins, 2023. "Climate obligations and social norms," Politics, Philosophy & Economics, , vol. 22(2), pages 103-125, May.
    15. Sydney Barnason & Christine Jie Li & Damon M. Hall & Sonja A. Wilhelm Stanis & John H. Schulz, 2022. "Environmental Action Programs Using Positive Youth Development May Increase Civic Engagement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-9, June.
    16. Benedetta Barchielli & Clarissa Cricenti & Francesca Gallè & Elita Anna Sabella & Fabrizio Liguori & Giovanna Da Molin & Giorgio Liguori & Giovanni Battista Orsi & Anna Maria Giannini & Stefano Ferrac, 2022. "Climate Changes, Natural Resources Depletion, COVID-19 Pandemic, and Russian-Ukrainian War: What Is the Impact on Habits Change and Mental Health?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-18, September.

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