CLIMATE CRISIS: THE SAME CLIMATE, TWO REALITIES IN DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL CONTEXTS IN THE COLOMBIAN CARIBBEAN

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity, particularly for the young generation, who will be most affected in their daily lives, but in their own specific contexts, since the consequences vary, making it important to understand the social perspective to address them. This research article identified specific needs by analyzing perceptions of climate change among students aged 13 to 16 at two educational institutions in different contexts in Colombia, using a mixed-methods approach in which the quantitative component was conducted through surveys of a sample of 187 participants, while the qualitative component was addressed through focus groups that allowed for an in-depth analysis of the established criteria, according to the identified categories. The concept of climate change, its origins, and its effects on politics, the economy, and society were investigated. Therefore, there is development in our understanding of climate change and its causes, but there are no mitigation approaches, which emphasizes the need to treat it as a fundamental concern in an educational system that equips students for future difficulties through practical actions.