CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS DIFFERENCES AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN KOREA AND INDONESIA

Abstract

The pressing issue of climate change demands an informed future generation, yet how aware are students? This study dives into the varying levels of climate change awareness among 1,079 Korean and 2,507 Indonesian primary school students using a sophisticated survey tool developed by Lee et al. (2021). Surprisingly, while both groups exhibited high levels of awareness, significant cross-cultural differences were uncovered. Indonesian students demonstrated higher levels of action, concern, belief, attention, and policy. This stands in stark contrast to Korean students, who, despite having a higher understanding of causes and effects, showed lower levels of belief and attention to the issue. These findings not only challenge us to rethink our educational strategies but also underscore the critical role of cultural contexts in shaping environmental awareness. This comparative analysis reveals startling insights into the complexities of educating the next generation about climate change, setting the stage for urgent educational reforms. Keywords: climate change education, awareness of climate change, cross-cultural comparison, South Korea, Indonesia, primary school students