Abstract:
Climate change is a pressing global issue with severe impacts on development,
including food insecurity, economic instability, and extreme weather events.
Driven by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities like deforestation
and fossil fuel use, it disproportionately affects Africa despite the continent's
minimal emissions. This paper was undertaken in Busia County and it sought
to find out the level of awareness of climate change among Junior School
learners whereby a total of 405 learners were included In the study and the data
was analyzed quantitatively. In Busia County, communities face displacement,
water contamination, livestock loss, and food scarcity due to floods, droughts,
and heatwaves. Events in Budalangi in Bunyala region of Busia County
highlight these challenges which are often exacerbated by poverty and limited
resilience. A Chi-square test was conducted to assess the association between
grade level and the belief that climate change poses a serious threat. While the
Pearson Chi-square result (χ² = 8.916, p = 0.063) was not statistically
significant at the 5% level, the Linear-by-Linear Association test was
significant (χ² = 7.718, p = 0.005), indicating a positive trend: as students
advance in grade, they are more likely to perceive climate change as a serious
threat. The findings also reveal gaps in knowledge, inconsistencies in
curriculum implementation, and limited participation in sustainable practices.
The study underscores the critical role of integrating comprehensive climate
change education into school curricula to foster informed and proactive
environmental stewardship. Based on the findings, recommendations are made
to enhance climate change awareness through improved pedagogical strategies,
community engagement, and policy reforms. This research advocates for a
structured and sustainable approach to equipping future generations with the
knowledge and skills necessary to combat climate change effectively
