Abstract
This study focuses on the awareness of climate change consequences among students at a South African public university. The study aimed to determine whether the students at a selected public university in South Africa are aware of climate change and its consequences, and what can be done to improve this awareness among South African university students. The research methodology applied in this study was mainly the qualitative research method. The study focused on exploring the conceptual, contextual, and theoretical underpinnings of climate change awareness among public university students. It also explored the global, continental, and South African environmental regulatory and climate change and global warming policy structure and the state of understanding of the implications and climate change education at global and national levels. After critical analysis of the responses collected from participants by way of questionnaires, the study found that there appears to be ample knowledge among students of climate change and its consequences at the South African public university where the study was conducted. The main concern raised by this study is that there are still pockets of participants who seem to have the wrong ideas and information about what climate change is, its causes, and consequences for families, communities, countries, and the world in general. It is, however, encouraging to find that most participants knew what to do to fight climate change and its impacts. Therefore, in order to improve awareness of climate change and its consequences for individuals, families, villages, communities, countries, and the whole world among students at South African public universities, this study recommends the intensification of climate change awareness campaigns. Global warming and climate change awareness and combatting strategies should be part and parcel of social and economic development programmes at local, national, continental, and global levels. It is important to ensure that all citizens in general, as well as university students who are likely to be future leaders of communities and countries, have access to scientifically proven evidence on climate change and its impacts from reliable sources, some of which are highlighted in this study. Keywords: Climate change; environmental; global warming; impact; awareness.
M.A. (Public Management and Governance)