Only one in 10 Canadian teens believe the earth’s environment will improve in the next 20 years, new research shows.
In a study of science skills and attitudes among 400,000 15-year-olds around the world, more than half said they are aware of the environmental dangers of clear-cutting forests, acid rain, greenhouse gases, nuclear waste and genetically modified organisms -- and most teens called for tougher laws to fight these issues.
But few hold out hope for solutions, according to the latest results from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), run by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD.)
The test showed Canadian teens rank third in the world for their science smarts after Finland and Hong Kong, based on a two-hour exam conducted across 57 countries. Students also answered a 30-minute survey on their attitudes towards science, and nearly half of Canadian students said they plan to go into a career in science.
Yet only one in 10 said they hold out hope for the threats to endangered species to improve in the next 20 years.
Among other results:
- - Nine out of 10 teens in Canada and around the world said government should crack down on companies that dump toxic waste, beef up laws that protect endangered species and require drivers to test their cars regularly for emissions;
- - Eight out of 10 teens in Canada and around the world think plastic packaging should be capped and that electricity should be produced from renewable sources - even if it raises the cost;
- - While 81 per cent of Canadian teens say they are aware of the dangers of clear-cutting forests, only 52 per cent were familiar with the issue of nuclear waste -- a danger more familiar to their peers in Turkey (74 per cent) and the Czech Republic (69 per cent;)
- - Eight out of 10 teens in Canada and around the world say they are concerned about energy shortages, and 76 per cent are worried about water shortage.
The report, conducted every three years, draws a strong link between a country’s socio-economic status and youth awareness of environmental issues.
