The Climate Literacy Levels of Secondary School Students and Their Opinions on Climate Change

Abstract

Turkey is among the countries which is highly sensitive to climate change on a global scale and under risk. It is predicted that the annual temperature across the country will have increased by 2100. In certain regions, the temperature increase may reach up to 60 °C. Against this risk there, however, are opportunities to improve climate literacy, particularly in schools, on climate change, its impacts and solutions. In this framework, this study intends to scrutinize the climate literacy levels of secondary school students in terms of certain variables and to disclose their opinions on climate change. As a result of the analysis of the data collected in the study in which the survey design was implemented, it was found that the climate literacy levels of the students were not at the desired level, particularly in the climate awareness dimension. This dimension includes items related to minimizing the effects of climate change and taking precautions. Nevertheless, another important result is that some students lead to environmentally unfriendly behaviours and actions to mitigate climate change on the back burner owing to economic concerns and financial problems lime unemployment. The most important solution for ecological sustainability and climate action is to legislate and create national educational solutions Via government incentives and support. Considering the result that school and family are insufficient in climate literacy education, it is of importance to carry out relevant studies.