Awareness and Attitude Towards Climate Change of Selected Senior High Students in Cavite, Philippines

In this paper, the researchers aimed to assess the awareness level and attitude of senior high school students in one academic institution in the Philippines towards climate change. This descriptive research surveyed 276 Grade 12 students, aged 16-19 years old, from different track and strands. Majority of the respondents were 18-19 years old (n=175) with almost equal male to female ratio. Results of the study revealed moderate to high level of awareness on issues concerning climate change. Senior high school students moderately to strongly agree on their role in addressing problems about climate change. Students became aware of climate change through several sources like television, internet, and from school. Majority of them look for further information about climate change by searching through the internet, watching television and from reading books. The high awareness level and strong positive attitude of senior high school students towards issues and concerns about climate change is a good indication that they are more likely to express willingness to act on this global problem. Raising awareness and promoting positive attitude about climate change should be one of the basic courses during early childhood education. The research findings provide an assessment on students’ awareness and attitude towards climate change that could help curriculum designers integrate environmental education in the K to 12 curriculums.

Keywords: climate change, awareness, attitude, senior high school