Climate change 'worries children'
Thursday, 23 June, 2005
BBC News

Climate change is young people's biggest concern for the world's future, a government survey says. Some 24% believe it is the greatest threat faced, while 19% think it is crime and violence, the Department for Education and Skills found.

Of the 1,000 10 to 18-year-olds questioned, 18% nominated terrorism and 12% said it was lack of housing around the globe which concerned them most.

The study accompanies the government's J8 Global Citizen Programme.

'Not soon enough'

Under the scheme - designed to coincide with preparations for the forthcoming G8 summit - children wrote communiqués on the world's climate and the challenges facing Africa.

Some 8% of those surveyed by the DfES said problems facing developing countries were their main worry.

Mike Crompton, chairman of the Morgan Stanley International Foundation, running the J8 programme with the DfES, said: "Leaders of the world may be addressing climate change and the challenges facing Africa at G8 but for many young people this has not come soon enough.

"The research and the school entries to the J8 competition show us that today's youngsters believe they are part of a global community, not isolated from global issues."

Ends