Fostering interest in and support for climate change activism among adolescents

Abstract

Engaging youth in climate change activism is crucial, particularly in countries where such activism is uncommon. Formal environmental education may play a key role in fostering this engagement. This study evaluated the impact of an educational intervention designed to stimulate general discussion on various contributors to climate change and assess its influence on adolescents’ support for climate activism. The intervention was conducted in four high schools across three administrative regions in Lithuania from October to December 2022, involving 245 adolescents (59.6% female; M = 14.84, SD = 1.29). It included a pre-test, four weekly classes held during regular school hours, a post-test, and a follow-up measurement. Results showed that the intervention increased adolescents’ interest in climate change activism and their self-reported willingness to participate in climate change protests. However, while there was a rise in interest in activism, support for specific activist activities and climate change protests did not significantly change. The analysis also indicated modest effects of gender and school on outcomes. Overall, these findings suggest that environmental education focusing on general topics can enhance some aspects of youth interest in climate activism, though the effects are relatively small.