Research
Young people worry about climate change, so what holds them back from taking action?
Earth.com · By Sanjana Gajbhiye ·
The Brief
- A new study led by Portland State University surveyed 1,603 young Americans about climate change.
- Respondents who were most worried about the climate were also the most willing to act on it.
- The source excerpt is truncated, so the study's explanation for why worry does not always lead to action is not confirmed here.
Why it matters
The finding suggests that climate worry alone does not reliably predict action among young people, which matters for anyone designing climate communication or engagement programmes.
Who’s affected
- researchers studying climate communication and public opinion
- educators and policymakers working on youth climate engagement
- #climate change
- #youth
- #climate action
- #survey
- #public opinion
Worrying about climate change does not always translate into a willingness to act. A new study led by Portland State University suggests why. Of the 1,603 young Americans who were surveyed, those most worried about the climate were the most willing to act on it. Yet they were…