Reading: Young people and climate change a) Read the following article on a current opinion poll among young people carried out by UNICEF. b) Divide it into paragraphs by inserting the symbol whenever you think a new paragraph should be started. Give reasons for your decisions. Only half of young people able to identify correct definition of climate change 2 A recent survey by UNICEF and Gallup found that while most children and young adults are aware of climate change, only half really understand it. In this global survey, 85% of participants aged 15–24 from 55 different countries said they had heard of climate change. However, only half were able to correctly identify the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) definition of climate change. The survey offered two choices: climate change as either “seasonal weather changes that occur every year” or as “increasing extreme weather events and rising global temperatures due to human activities”. The correct answer was the latter. This misunderstanding is particularly common in low-income countries, which are also the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In countries such as Pakistan, Sierra Leone and Bangladesh, awareness was significantly lower at 19%, 26% and 37% respectively. Children in these regions face serious risks from climate change, including threats to their health, education and overall well-being. The 2023 Gallup World Poll, a follow-up to the first Changing Childhood project in 2021, explores children’s and young adults’ understanding of climate change. It also looks at their trust in information sources and their views on political change in a globalised world. The results show that 60% of young respondents use social media as their main source of news and information. However, only 23% place a great deal of trust in these platforms. Social media is the least trusted source of information of all the options in the survey. Interestingly, the survey suggests that young people are more likely to see themselves as global citizens, a perspective that is more common in this age group than in older cohorts. This broader worldview among young people could encourage greater international cooperation and alliances, particularly in tackling the climate crisis. However, this comes against a backdrop of declining trust in information sources, which points to a significant challenge in delivering global responses to pressing issues. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 c) Why do you think understanding of climate change is lower in low-income countries, and how can this issue be addressed? d) What are the benefits and drawbacks of young people using social media for news about issues like climate change? Speaking – Individual long turn: News on social media by Gauteng_Girl In a world bombarded with news, I have a not-so-popular opinion: news doesn’t really touch me. As a teen from Gauteng, South Africa, the stories streaming in feel so disconnected from my everyday life. Lots of people say that news are important to stay informed and join conversations. But what if those topics have nothing to do with my life? For me, life is about personal experiences, relationships, and dreams. I learn from what happens to me directly, not from stuff happening far away. While others are busy following every update, I’m exploring the world my way – through real experiences, not just posts and tweets. Maybe I miss out on some big news, but in return, I gain moments that truly matter to me. Give a four-minute talk on using social media to inform oneself about the news in which you • explain if this blog post also reflects your attitude towards news on social media. • reflect on how you interact with news on social media platforms, considering the sources you trust and how you share and discuss news. • speculate about the future trends in how young people will engage with news on social media. 3 51 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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