Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events in the Education of the Citizens of the Twenty-First Century: The Perception of Secondary Education Students

Within the current context of climate emergency, the topic of climate change has become more prominent in secondary education in Spain. However, in general, conceptual confusions arise which should be clarified due to the social importance of climate issues. The objectives of this study, focused on third and fourth year students of ESO (Obligatory Secondary Education) in state schools in a town in the province of Alicante (Region of Valencia, Spain), seek to reveal the perception of the students regarding climate change and extreme weather events, in accordance with the subject in which these contents are taught; and to analyse whether the students have acquired a basic knowledge of the topic at the end of their secondary education. In order to fulfil these objectives, a non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional and survey-based correlational study has been conducted. The sample was made up of 784 students, surveyed during the academic year 2021-2022. The results indicate that the principal subject in which climate change is taught is Geography and History. The students consider that climate change is a threat to human beings and believe that anthropogenic action is the principal cause. They also perceive an increase in extreme weather events, although it is necessary to qualify this aspect. Therefore, this study defends the need to address this topic in the third and fourth years of ESO, as it is one of the major challenges faced by society and one in which students should be educated within the framework of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Automated summary

This study aims to understand the perception of climate change and extreme weather events among Spanish secondary students and analyze whether they have acquired basic knowledge by the end of their secondary education. The results indicate that Geography and History are the main subjects in which climate change is taught. Students consider climate change a threat to humanity and believe anthropogenic actions are the main cause. They also perceive an increase in extreme weather events, although further clarification is necessary. Therefore, this study emphasizes the need to strengthen climate change education in the third and fourth years of Spanish secondary education as it is one of the major challenges society faces, and students should be educated within the framework of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).