American Adolescents’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Sources of Information on Climate Change

The report analyzes a May 2018 survey of 1,257 American adolescents to determine how they learn about climate change, their level of scientific understanding, and their emotional responses to the issue. Key findings indicate that while a large majority of teens recognize climate change is happening and trust NASA scientists, their understanding of the underlying science is often incomplete. Social media and television are the most common general news sources, while science teachers are the most frequent source of climate-specific information. The report also highlights a significant level of worry among teens, with many believing their generation will suffer more harm than their parents' generation and feeling that adults are not doing enough to protect them.

• Adolescents primarily use social media (56%) and television (46%) as general news sources, while fewer use radio (16%), online newspapers (21%), or print newspapers (10%).
• Science teachers are the most frequent source of climate change information for teens, with 78% hearing them discuss the topic at least sometimes.
• NASA scientists are the most trusted source of information on climate change, with nearly 90% of adolescents trusting them, including 60% who strongly trust them.
• While 80% of adolescents believe climate change is happening, their understanding of the science is partial; for example, 40% incorrectly believe industrial activities have reduced greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
• Adolescents generally underestimate the level of scientific consensus on human-caused climate change, estimating it at 70.5% when the actual consensus is 97% or higher.
• Two-thirds of adolescents are worried about climate change, and 81% believe it is at least somewhat personally important to them.
• There is a strong perception of intergenerational inequity, with 60% of adolescents expecting their generation to be harmed more by climate change than their parents' generation, and 56% believing parents are not doing enough to protect them.
• Despite their worries, over half of adolescents (58%) disagree that there is nothing their generation can do about climate change, and 50% believe they will be able to adapt to its effects.
• Adolescents are most interested in learning about climate solutions (30%), with the most frequent specific question being whether it is too late to reduce climate change (14%).
• Older adolescents tend to be more emotionally engaged and critical of their parents' responses, although their estimates of harm to themselves and future generations do not differ significantly from younger adolescents.

APA

Roser-Renouf, C., Maibach, E., & Myers, T. (2020). American Adolescents’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Sources of Information on Climate Change. Center for Climate Change Communication. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/teen-report-1.pdf

Chicago

Roser-Renouf, Connie, Edward Maibach, and Teresa Myers. American Adolescents’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Sources of Information on Climate Change. Center for Climate Change Communication, 2020. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/teen-report-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Roser-Renouf |first1=Connie |last2=Maibach |first2=Edward |last3=Myers |first3=Teresa |title=American Adolescents’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Sources of Information on Climate Change |publisher=Center for Climate Change Communication |date=June 2020 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/teen-report-1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{roserrenouf2020american, author = {Roser-Renouf, Connie and Maibach, Edward and Myers, Teresa}, title = {{American Adolescents’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Sources of Information on Climate Change}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2020}, month = jun, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/teen-report-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }