Students in Climate Action: A Study of Some Influential Factors and Implications of Knowledge Gaps in Africa
This study examined how the regional manifestations of climate change effects and students’ involvement in various climate-related clubs and activities influenced their knowledge and awareness of climate change. Key knowledge gaps and their implications for climate action were also examine...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Environments |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/6/2/12 |
| _version_ | 1811186167012392960 |
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| author | Mark M. Akrofi Sarpong H. Antwi Jabulani R. Gumbo |
| author_facet | Mark M. Akrofi Sarpong H. Antwi Jabulani R. Gumbo |
| author_sort | Mark M. Akrofi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examined how the regional manifestations of climate change effects and students’ involvement in various climate-related clubs and activities influenced their knowledge and awareness of climate change. Key knowledge gaps and their implications for climate action were also examined. A cross-sectional survey was adopted for the study whilst a snowball sampling technique was used to select the respondents. A total of 300 students from 26 African countries participated in the survey. Descriptive statistics, relative importance index (RII) method and the chi-square test of independence were used to analyze the data. Results showed that regional manifestations of climate change effects and students’ involvement in climate change-related workshops and campaigns significantly influenced their knowledge levels whilst their membership of climate-related student clubs had no significant influence. Key knowledge gaps with regards to how factors such as meat consumption and waste generation could lead to climate change were also identified. Students were also less knowledgeable about how climate change affects key issues such as conflicts, gender inequalities and job insecurity. Intensification of climate change education beyond the most common causes and effects is highly recommended among the youth. Various environment-related student clubs are also encouraged to tailor their activities in this direction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:42:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c0f428ea1e604fad99cae74b1628aac4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3298 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:42:19Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environments |
| spelling | doaj.art-c0f428ea1e604fad99cae74b1628aac42022-12-22T04:21:13ZengMDPI AGEnvironments2076-32982019-01-01621210.3390/environments6020012environments6020012Students in Climate Action: A Study of Some Influential Factors and Implications of Knowledge Gaps in AfricaMark M. Akrofi0Sarpong H. Antwi1Jabulani R. Gumbo2Institute of Water and Energy Sciences (Incl. Climate Change), Pan African University, Tlemcen 13000, AlgeriaInstitute of Water and Energy Sciences (Incl. Climate Change), Pan African University, Tlemcen 13000, AlgeriaDepartment of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Venda, Limpopo 0950, South AfricaThis study examined how the regional manifestations of climate change effects and students’ involvement in various climate-related clubs and activities influenced their knowledge and awareness of climate change. Key knowledge gaps and their implications for climate action were also examined. A cross-sectional survey was adopted for the study whilst a snowball sampling technique was used to select the respondents. A total of 300 students from 26 African countries participated in the survey. Descriptive statistics, relative importance index (RII) method and the chi-square test of independence were used to analyze the data. Results showed that regional manifestations of climate change effects and students’ involvement in climate change-related workshops and campaigns significantly influenced their knowledge levels whilst their membership of climate-related student clubs had no significant influence. Key knowledge gaps with regards to how factors such as meat consumption and waste generation could lead to climate change were also identified. Students were also less knowledgeable about how climate change affects key issues such as conflicts, gender inequalities and job insecurity. Intensification of climate change education beyond the most common causes and effects is highly recommended among the youth. Various environment-related student clubs are also encouraged to tailor their activities in this direction.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/6/2/12climate changestudent clubsknowledge gapsyouthclimate action |
| spellingShingle | Mark M. Akrofi Sarpong H. Antwi Jabulani R. Gumbo Students in Climate Action: A Study of Some Influential Factors and Implications of Knowledge Gaps in Africa Environments climate change student clubs knowledge gaps youth climate action |
| title | Students in Climate Action: A Study of Some Influential Factors and Implications of Knowledge Gaps in Africa |
| title_full | Students in Climate Action: A Study of Some Influential Factors and Implications of Knowledge Gaps in Africa |
| title_fullStr | Students in Climate Action: A Study of Some Influential Factors and Implications of Knowledge Gaps in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Students in Climate Action: A Study of Some Influential Factors and Implications of Knowledge Gaps in Africa |
| title_short | Students in Climate Action: A Study of Some Influential Factors and Implications of Knowledge Gaps in Africa |
| title_sort | students in climate action a study of some influential factors and implications of knowledge gaps in africa |
| topic | climate change student clubs knowledge gaps youth climate action |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/6/2/12 |
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