Youth Climate Action Research
Our research with secondary school students provides a depth of understanding of young people’s climate action, helping ensure youth voices directly inform decisions in schools, communities, and wider political discussions.
Since 2021, we have listened to over 25,000 young people to understand their climate priorities, influences, and everyday actions.
Our research is delivered primarily through student-led Climate Action Surveys, drawing on social and behavioural science frameworks including the COM-B model developed by University College London (see here).
Eco-groups or other lead students lead the research in their schools, engaging as many peers as possible. Each school receives a bespoke report, and the aggregated data contributes to regional and national insights.
This approach provides timely insights to help schools, councils, and communities design responsive, effective, and trusted climate policies and actions – supporting better outcomes for young people and their communities.
All of our materials are open-access distributed under the terms outlined below.
What our research explores
Climate action: What young people think and do across key areas, including energy, nature, waste, transport, food, consumption, and climate campaigning.
Motivators and barriers: What supports or prevents meaningful youth engagement in climate action.
Local context: How specific community and lived experience shapes young people’s climate action.
Expectations: What young people want to see happen in their schools, communities, businesses, and government, and how debates (e.g., on net zero) affect trust, hope, and participation.
Mapping demographics: Finding out who has responded to ensure broad representation and highlight patterns.
Tracking changes: Repeating surveys to identify trends over time in attitudes, behaviours, and narratives.
Call to action
Clear messages we’ve consistently heard from young people all over the country are:
- Young people want greater action on climate change, looking for a positive vision and encouragement, and to be actively involved in making that change.
- They want structural change that enables genuinely sustainable outcomes.
- They believe strongly that their voices should be included, as those most affected in the future by today’s decisions.
“I think young people should be listened to because we are the people these issues will effect.” Student, 2025
👉 Share our inspiring Call to Action poster outlining five empowering steps that 11- to 18-year-olds told us would motivate them to engage in further climate action.
National reports
Youth Climate Action Research Report 2022 – 2023
One of the largest ever surveys of its kind, bringing together the views of almost 10,000 British secondary school students. Read the press release.
Youth Climate Action Research Report 2021
Almost 4,000 secondary school students participated in the 2021 survey, launched to coincide with Youth and Public Empowerment Day at the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
Regional reports
Bristol – We are powerful when we work together
A Bristol wide campaign with youth groups has seen over 2,000 young people take part in our research, with their voices being presented to the council. Find out about the campaign here.
Buckinghamshire
A report capturing insights from 1,892 students across three schools in Buckinghamshire, conducted between 2023 and 2024. Find out about the campaign here.
Gloucestershire – We deserve a say in our future
Through partnership work almost 3,000 young people across Gloucestershire participated in the survey, informing and positively influencing Gloucestershire County Council’s Climate Change Strategy. Read more here.
Solihull
The report, carried out in partnership with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, communicates the views of 550 young people within the borough, offering insights into how the Council can support young people and involve them in Solihull’s net zero journey. Read more here.
🎬 Take a look at the Bristol campaign video that successfully promoted the Climate Action Survey across all secondary schools and universities in Bristol, and via social media. Find out more here.
💡Created by Bristol City Youth Council and UWE Bristol student Beth Filer.
👉 On Canva here. On You Tube here.
Impact
When young people shared their views through our 2023 national report, they made one thing clear: they want youth voices to be heard, shared, and acted on.
ICN takes this responsibility seriously, transforming youth insight into meaningful action that recognises lived experience, builds trust, and informs decision-making and community engagement.
Supporting youth-led action
- Through our Action on Climate Together (ACT) project, 150 students transformed survey insights into fun, hands-on climate action, creating everything from waste-reducing voting bins to a cycling campaign offering a free lunch.
- Youth leads in Bristol used data insights to develop Think Fashion – a five-week behaviour change campaign designed to reset fashion habits.
Enabling schools, councils, and communities to develop climate policies and action that integrate young people’s priorities and needs
- Informing climate strategies in Solihull, Gloucestershire, Bristol, and Buckinghamshire.
- Contributing to school climate action plans together with initiatives like Let’s Go Zero – highlighted in the Leckhampton High School case study.
- Engaging place-based initiatives and approaches for meaningful action and participation with young people in their area e.g. Centre for Sustainable Energy, Buckinghamshire climate action groups.
Ensuring young people feel listened to and involved in shaping climate transitions
- Our 2023 national report was well received by academia, Government, and NGOs, including Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet members and the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee. It reached over 8,300 social media engagements, with campaigns like Power to Act and Climate Heroes generating over 3,600 impressions and 1,000+ LinkedIn impressions.
- Supporting youth-led advocacy, such as the open letter to prospective councillors circulated by Planet Cheltenham Youth Climate Group during the 2024 local elections.
- Insights informing university courses, including PGCE teacher training, and to support lobbying, grant applications, and wider publications.
“It’s been brilliant to have the report and stats when lobbying the council – it’s been an invaluable resource that’s really gotten the message across to them and has helped us to start wider conversation about Youth Voice Representation in local government as well as climate related discussions.”
Youth Climate Group
“WELL DONE! This is a great report and really useful…really emphasises the importance role of school …. and the graphic summary of the key findings is really inspiring.”
Professor of Neuroscience and Education
“Considering the lack of climate and sustainability education in the national curriculum it’s incredible how much is going on in schools. However, there is so much more that needs to be done in all schools to really prepare them for life on this rapidly changing planet. This research is vital to support change.”
Dr Meryl Batchelder, Teacher & Ambassador for Teach SDGs & the Ministry of Eco Education
“Thanks for sharing this, it’s an important (and beautifully presented!) report, and one that will definitely resonate with our audience.”
Global Dimension / Reboot the Future
Using the data
These are open-access research reports distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Partners and Funders
Thanks to all participating school students and their teachers for their commitment to leading change.
The research has been made possible through the support of Movement for Good and the Dr Martens Foundation.
