Climate Awareness and Communication

On the 6th and 7th of May 2025, we, the Junior Change Club at Goetheschule Essen, and students from Tønder Gymnasium asked locals from Tønder, Denmark, to take part in our survey about climate change, environmental issues and climate communication. Our goal was to compare the climate awareness of inhabitants of Denmark and Germany.

We carried out a survey in Tønder among our host students, aged 16 to 17, and later went downtown to question Danish locals. The age range of the people we spoke to in the street started at 20 and went up to well over 70. In total, we spoke to 35 Danish inhabitants and another 27 Germans.

At first, the idea of questioning strangers in the street was a little scary to us, but the kind and polite manner of the locals quickly gave us confidence and motivation to go through with our task optimistically. We were happy to find that the locals were open to take our survey, concentrated on the questions and took them very seriously.

Fragebogen Klima

Survey among our Host Students 

When we asked our 15 Danish host students about climate change, we found that many associated climate change with words like ‘natural disaster’ or ‘melting glaciers’. Some saw a connection between ‘tsunamis’ and climate change, though tsunamis are usually caused by earthquakes. This shows that not all students were well informed about the topic. 75% of them, however, considered themselves to be very well informed (red) or well informed (yellow) rather than not well informed (grey). German students were equally confident, but also did not always distinguish between natural disasters (for example wildfire) and climate change.

When asked what they themselves do in their everyday lives to minimise their carbon footprint, most students responded that they had reduced their paper consumption. Many students stated that their school had introduced iPads, but they were aware that this is not an environmentally-friendly solution unless further efforts will be made to minimize electricity usage and extend battery life. Our respondents also wanted to contribute to climate protection by changing their general consumption habits and using environmentally friendly means of transportation.

We found that the Danish school seems to take more climate action. In addition to their existing school projects, the Danish students would like to see even more changes, such as waste separation, paying attention to food leftovers and they would also like to collaborate with Fridays for Future. The German students talked more about necessary changes in their consumption habits, sustainable means of transport and waste separation.

Street Survey in Tønder

When comparing the answers of young people and adults whom we questioned in Tønder’s pedestrian precinct, more similarities become apparent. Several students said, for example, that individual and political change was necessary because “sea levels are rising” and “there is no Planet B.” Many adults also feel affected by climate change and have noticed it through rising water levels and more expensive goods, which is why they have changed their daily habits. We thought it was interesting to note that price increases seem to be seen as a direct consequence of climate change. As a result, Danish adults claim that they pay attention to their consumption behaviour and CO₂ emissions in their everyday routines. Waste separation is also one of the most important aspects in their daily lives.

When it comes to activist demonstrations, our respondents were also largely of the same opinion. Most found the climate activists’ protest actions justified—but sometimes too extreme. However, it is precisely because of these protests, the drastic weather changes, and the decline of many plant species that most respondents have become more aware of the climate crisis. That is why many of them said they were trying to reduce their carbon footprint. They claim they do this by using sustainable transportation and making everyday habits more environmentally friendly.

A major difference in climate change perception is that young Danes feel that not everyone is making the same effort. According to our respondents, the younger generation is more committed to their future compared to the older generation, which was why some even described adults as “ignorant” on the topic.

Comparing Survey Results from Germany and Denmark

Now guess! Do you believe that attitudes to climate change are the same among Danish and German teenagers? What do you expect concerning the following questions?

The views of German teenagers were actually very similar to what we learned from our Danish partner students. Interestingly, some German students mentioned that they felt that unreliable sources influenced them because they noticed that they had come across conspiracy theories.

The range of school subjects that cover climate change seems to be broader in Germany. Maybe this helps to develop a critical awareness of false information.

Danish students, however, are more convinced that their teachers actually care about climate change.

All in all, it looks like we have a lot in common. Information about climate change is accessible via many different channels but there remain misunderstandings and concerns. Especially the young people told us in our interviews that they think the older generation needs to do more to mitigate climate change effects and ensure a good future for everyone.