College students all over the world are grappling with deep-seated fears and anxiety about the existential threat posed by climate change. This concern has only intensified as severe weather events become more frequent and the Earth’s temperature continues to rise. Many students in the United States are keeping their worries about living on a warming planet to themselves, feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about the future.
At Project Information Literacy (PIL), a nonprofit research institute, a team of researchers, including myself, study the information-seeking behavior of college students and recent graduates. With my 25 years of experience as a professor, I am dedicated to understanding the student experience in the digital age.
In a recent survey of nearly 1,600 undergraduate students from nine U.S. colleges and universities, we explored how individuals encounter and respond to climate change news and information. The results revealed the complex emotions students feel, ranging from anxiety and despair to hope and determination. Despite the overwhelming challenges of climate change, many students believe in humanity’s capacity to address and mitigate the crisis.
While the majority of students express concern and anxiety about the future, there are signs of optimism and a willingness to take action. Educators have a unique opportunity to inspire change by fostering discussions about climate change and empowering students to be part of the solution.
It is essential for colleges and universities to not only assess students’ knowledge of climate change but also understand how they form their beliefs and attitudes around this critical issue. By examining how students engage with climate change information, educators can better support and inform their efforts to address the crisis.
Our study highlighted the important role of the college classroom in shaping students’ understanding of climate change and their motivation to take action. While students may feel isolated in their concerns, the classroom serves as a forum for discussion and knowledge-sharing, offering hope for collective action.
Ultimately, students trust the expertise of climate scientists and rely on media and information literacy skills to evaluate the credibility of climate news. With guidance from educators and librarians, students can navigate the overwhelming amount of information about climate change and make informed decisions.
As we look to the rising generation of college students to lead the way in addressing climate change, it is crucial to support their efforts and empower them to take action. By fostering a sense of agency and collective responsibility, educators can help students see that progress begins with individual and collective efforts.
There is still much work to be done to translate climate anxiety into meaningful action, but as one student aptly put it, “progress always starts from the bottom.” Together, we can create a more sustainable and resilient future for the planet.
