According to New EARTHDAY.ORG Survey, Majority Feel Climate Change Education Should be Compulsory

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), EARTHDAY.ORG conducted a survey of our supporters’ climate concerns. According to the poll, an overwhelming majority of respondents, 91%, are extremely concerned about climate change. Additionally, 98% of respondents believe that climate education should be compulsory in schools. 

Sixty-eight percent of participants say they agree at various levels that the outcome of COP26 will drastically improve efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions while 16% disagree. The bulk of respondents, 78%, strongly agree that commitments made at COP26 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should be binding. Voters are mixed on the role of the business community in negotiations at the conference: 63% feel they will have a positive impact while 24% disagree, to different degrees. 

Nearly 3 in 4 respondents, 76%, expect that governments, corporations, and civil society will work together to address the climate crisis in the next ten years. 87% of participants strongly agree that governments should be doing more to promote the creation of green jobs.

The plurality of participants, 96%, believe governments should subsidize research and development of carbon sequestration technologies. Additionally, 96% of respondents feel as governments should implement carbon emissions pricing models to incentivize the switch to green energy solutions.

“While respondents are mixed regarding the outcome of COP26, one thing remains clear: the need for climate education is at the forefront of the public’s mind. Climate education has the power to revolutionize the world we live in from the economy, to the energy sector, to the workforce. It is time for world leaders to listen to the voices of civil society and youth – it is time to commit to integrated and assessed climate education for all,” said Kathleen Rogers, President, EARTHDAY.ORG.

“It is clear that the world, and especially our young people, are demanding a clear, transformative, and urgent response to the climate crisis at COP26 and beyond. Quality climate education for all is fundamental in order to create a sustainable, equitable, and just future. Education is for students, and they are asking for climate change education. Many are scared when they see what is happening to the planet. The role of education is to empower them to create their future, our future,” said Haldis Holst, Deputy Secretary General, Education International. 

For more details on the survey and data, please visit: https://www.earthday.org/cop26-survey-results/ 

ABOUT EARTHDAY.ORG:
EARTHDAY.ORG’s mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day (1970), EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in 192 countries to build environmental democracy. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Learn more at earthday.org.