To trust or not to trust? Young people’s trust in climate change science and implications for climate change engagement

Abstract

This article discusses young people’s trust or distrust in climate change science. The aim is to show how the emotional dimension of trust in climate change science plays a role for an engagement at two levels: how young people relate to climate change at large, if they worry or deny climate change, and how young people deal with ambivalence regarding behavioral advice about, for example, climate-friendly food choices. The article ends by elaborating on the need for more research about what role trust/distrust in climate change science plays in young people’s everyday climate engagement, meaning-making, and identity development.