For a decade, we have been tracking attitudes and opinions about climate change amongst students in further and higher education. This research reflects that conducted by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), previously the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (2012 – 2022). By mirroring the questions that are asked in DESNZ’s nationally representative survey, we are able to generate rich comparisons between the general public and student views.

Our latest round of surveying, in September 2024, asked students a new set of questions, aligning with updated questions asked by DESNZ in summer 2024. Topics of focus included which everyday actions are considered to have the biggest impact on tackling climate change, and trust in different sources to provide accurate information about climate change. Approximately 1632 students completed the survey.

Student attitudes and opinions

• Since the research began in 2014, student respondents have consistently shown a high level of concern about climate change, with a majority saying they are fairly or very concerned. 79% reported a high level of concern.

• 83% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that if everyone plays their part, we can lessen the impact of climate change. 67% strongly disagreed or disagreed that there’s little point in taking action to reduce climate change if others aren’t doing the same.

• 89% of student respondents reported that they ‘recycled household waste’ in their everyday life, while 7% ‘switched their bank or pension investments to avoid supporting fossil fuel extraction’. Only 1% indicated that they did not enact any behaviours in their everyday lives to reduce climate change.

• 38% of respondents considered the action that would have the biggest impact on reducing climate change is ‘recycling household waste’. Only 10% believed that ‘changing your bank to not support fossil fuels’ would.

• 91% of student respondents trust a great deal or trust to some extent ‘scientists working at universities’ to provide accurate information about climate change, while 70% do not trust at all or do not have much trust in ‘social media’ to provide accurate information.

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Students and the general public

• For the first time, in September 2024, the level of concern about climate change indicated amongst student respondents was equal to general public respondents, with 79% reporting being fairly or very concerned.

•  For both groups, the most enacted behaviour to reduce climate change is ‘recycling household waste’. 89% of students and 86% of the general public reported doing this in their everyday lives.

• While 42% of the general public considered that ‘installing low carbon heating systems at home’ would have the biggest impact on tackling climate change, only 24% of student respondents believed the same.

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Read the September 2024 report to learn more about how students' views compare to the general public.