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http://dx.doi.org/10.5322/JESI.2022.31.10.891

Can an Education Program alter Students' Perceptions of the Causes of and Solutions to Climate Change? - A Case in South Korea  

Jang, Yong-chang (Department of Public Administration Studies, Kyung-nam University)
Publication Information
Journal of Environmental Science International / v.31, no.10, 2022 , pp. 891-899 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study investigated whether an educational program could alter students' perceptions of the causes of and solutions to climate change. On October 23, 2020, a 3-hour climate change educational program was provided to 400 high school students in Suncheon City, (Jeonnam Province, South Korea). According to the program, climate change represents a social dilemma, or tragedy of the commons; it also asserts that collective action aimed at strengthening government policy is the optimal solution to climate change, and concludes that motivated citizens should convey their opinions directly to the government through political action. After the program, the students made and shared placards calling for policy-based responses to climate change. Questionnaires completed by the students before and after the program revealed that their perceptions of the causes of and solutions to climate change changed significantly. This case study indicates that education programs have the potential to alter students' perspectives and promote actions aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change.
Keywords
Tragedy of the commons; Social dilemma; Political action; Placards; Government policy;
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