Adolescents’ Knowledge on Climate Change: A Nationwide Study in Indonesia

Evi Martha (), Besral, Ulfi Hida Zainita, Naurah Assyifa Rilfi and Syifa Aulia Aminudin
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Evi Martha: Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Building D 1st Floor, Depok 16424, Indonesia
Besral: Department of Biostatistics and Population Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Building A 2nd Floor, Depok 16424, Indonesia
Ulfi Hida Zainita: Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Building D 1st Floor, Depok 16424, Indonesia
Naurah Assyifa Rilfi: Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Building D 1st Floor, Depok 16424, Indonesia
Syifa Aulia Aminudin: Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Building D 1st Floor, Depok 16424, Indonesia

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: Adolescents’ knowledge about climate change is key to protecting the well-being of all generations and to promoting individuals’ rights and resilience. This study assesses the climate change literacy of Indonesian adolescents and its determinants. This nationwide study was conducted in 2023 in Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Eastern Indonesia. A total of 1126 adolescents aged 13–19 years were selected through multi-stage sampling. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression. This study found that 49.7% of adolescents had poor climate change literacy. In the multivariate analysis, the significantly related factors had an odds ratio of 1.66–4.75. Climate change literacy was higher in adolescents from the West and Central Regions, from public or religious schools, and those with educated parents, than in adolescents from the Eastern Region, from private or vocational schools, and those whose parents had low education, respectively. This study suggests the need to promote equality in climate change literacy among Indonesian adolescents through formal and informal education. High-quality formal education would necessitate well-trained teachers with expertise in climate change, as well as a structured, age-appropriate curriculum. Meanwhile, informal education through another information dissemination and social media-based movements can help broaden outreach among adolescents.

Keywords: climate change; knowledge; adolescent; health; well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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