“It’s not going to affect us” is what I usually hear from my friends and classmates whenever the topic of climate change comes up. This apathy towards climate change, in my opinion, is the exact reason why climate change has become such a pressing issue. Don’t just take my word for it. In a survey published by The Lancet Planetary Health, of the 10,000 people aged 16 to 25, 59 percent were extremely worried about climate change and 84 percent were at least moderately worried. Many respondents reported feeling sadness, anxiety, and powerlessness, and that these emotions had a negative effect on their daily lives.
Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is a daily reality. Just a few weeks ago, over 100 lives were lost due to flash flooding in Texas. Real impacts are being felt from climate-related disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and heat waves. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there were 27 climate-induced disaster events in 2024, where each one had damages worth over one billion dollars. Yet, even as the stakes become more important, public knowledge remains dangerously low. It stalls progress, threatens the environment, inhibits global cooperation on climate change, and harms our ability to cast informed ballots.
I had the opportunity to directly measure this lack of understanding. In a case study I conducted with a UC Berkeley professor, we administered an eight-question climate quiz to two student groups: 144 UC Berkeley MBA students and 126 high school students at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino. The results were troubling, though, sadly, not surprising. On average, only 19 percent of UC Berkeley students gave fully correct answers. High schoolers fared slightly better at 39 percent, but that still means that less than half of students could answer basic questions like why Earth has seasons or what causes sea level rise. These results reveal a troubling lack of basic scientific literacy needed to effectively evaluate policies and leaders.
This problem extends far beyond the scope of this study, though. According to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, most U.S. middle and high school science teachers do not fully understand the scientific consensus on climate change. Of those that do, many teach it incorrectly. On average, students receive only one to two hours of climate change instruction per year. If teachers themselves are not confident in what they teach, then how can students be expected to know the content?
Recent political events make climate literacy even more of a priority. While the climate crisis is typically downplayed and even dismissed in national rhetoric, real effects from climate change are already being experienced in communities across the country. Actions such as withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, promoting oil extraction, and rolling back environmental protections move the needle on the country’s progress backwards. A lack of understanding about climate science only makes it easier for misinformation to spread and meaningful action to be delayed.
I believe the solution starts with integrating robust climate education into every grade level of curriculum, not just science, but across disciplines. Climate change touches upon a myriad of subjects. In biology, it touches on the movement of species and ecosystems. In mathematics, it is the study of climate data and models and forecasting trends. In history, it helps explain the effects of the Industrial Revolution. In economics, it connects to topics like green jobs and sustainable development. In literature, students can explore climate themes in both fiction and nonfiction works. Climate change also impacts public health, agriculture, politics, and many other fields. Educating students about climate change so they have the knowledge to understand and act on climate issues is essential if we want a future where voters and leaders are equipped to combat climate change.
Some states are already taking action. For instance, New Jersey has incorporated climate change into educational standards across all subjects and grade levels. Washington state granted $10 million over three years starting in 2018 to support climate change education. These are promising steps, but they must be scaled nationally. By whatever means possible, climate literacy is essential if we are going to combat climate change and ensure our future. The climate crisis will define our generation, but we cannot solve a problem we do not understand. It is time for schools, policymakers, and the public to treat climate education as the priority it is.
