A study on climate change awareness among undergraduate students of western Odisha

The present study titled, “A Study on Climate Change Awareness Among Undergraduate Students of Western Odisha.” This study investigates the level of climate change awareness among undergraduate students in Western Odisha and examines the significant relationship between mean awareness scores and gender and locality. Climate change has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental challenges to human life, ecosystems and sustainable development globally. Climatic disturbances like rising temperatures, irregular rains, droughts, floods etc., are increasingly affecting natural and human systems. In this context, awareness among young people, particularly undergraduate students, is highly important because they represent the future generation responsible for environmental protection and sustainable decision-making. The study employed descriptive survey design. The study population was the undergraduate students studying in different colleges and universities of Western Odisha. Stratified random sampling techniques were used to select a sample of 110 undergraduate students from different educational institutions of the region. The data were collected through a self-developed Climate Change Awareness Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques such as mean, standard deviation, percentage, and t-test. The findings of the study revealed that undergraduate students of Western Odisha possessed a moderate to high level of awareness regarding climate change and its environmental impacts. The study further highlighted that there is no significant difference found in mean scores between the genders as well as locality. The study emphasizes the importance of strengthening environmental education and climate literacy programs at the higher education level. It suggests that climate change education should be made more practical, contextual, and connected to the local environmental realities of Western Odisha. The findings of the study may be useful for educators, curriculum planners, policymakers, and environmental organizations in developing effective awareness programs and promoting sustainable environmental practices among youth.