Climate dread among children and parents has risen due to increasingly frequent extreme weather events such as floods and heatwaves, a poll has suggested.
The survey, carried out by Opinion Matters on behalf of Save The Children, asked 1,000 children, aged nine to 17, and 2,003 parents aged over 18 in the UK about their climate change concerns.
It found that 73% of children and 77% of adults who responded to the survey said they worried about the impact of climate change on the younger generation.
Meanwhile, 69% of children and 72% of parents thought their level of worry about the climate had significantly increased because of extreme weather events over the last few years, the research suggested.
It also found that 84% of parents who responded to the survey did not feel confident that the UK Government would demonstrate strong global leadership on climate change, as Cop28 approaches at the end of the month.
In terms of the response of high-profile figures, some 8% of children said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was doing the “most good” for the planet, compared with 46% choosing David Attenborough and 27% choosing Greta Thunberg.
Shruti Agarwal, senior adviser on climate change and sustainable economies at Save The Children, said: “Children are growing up in a world where extreme events like wildfires, floods and hurricanes have become the frightening new normal.
“They stand to inherit a planet with even more frequent extreme weather events than ever before.
“Children are anxious and alarmed by the climate crisis – justifiably so, particularly as action to tackle the climate emergency has been woefully inadequate.
“With the Prime Minister attending Cop28, he must seize the opportunity along with world leaders to show children they are listening and prepared to protect their futures.
“The UK’s rhetoric on climate leadership already rings hollow as its actions reflect a failure to confront the crisis with the urgency it requires.
“Children in the UK and across the world tell us they know their future depends on bold action now. The time for half measures is long past. There is no planet B.”
The charity said it was calling on the UK Government to step up its action to address the climate crisis and increase climate funding to support lower-income countries, who were on the sharp end of developments.
It was also urging the Government to ensure children’s rights, needs and voices were at the heart of all climate action and funding, it added.
The PA news agency has contacted the Foreign Office for comment.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel