American Teens’ Knowledge of Climate Change reports results from a national study of what
American teens in middle and high school understand about how the climate system works, and the
causes, impacts and potential solutions to global warming.
This report describes how knowledge of climate change varies across both American teens and
adults. Using a straight grading scale, 25 percent of teens received a passing grade (A, B, or C),
compared to 30 percent of American adults. While knowledge levels vary, these results also indicate
that relatively few teens have an in-depth understanding of climate change. Fifty-four percent of
teens received a failing grade (F), compared to 46 percent of adults.