Climate change poses a grave threat to future generations, yet relatively little research examines children’s understandings of the issue. This study examines the questions children ask about climate change – rather than their answers to adults’ questions – exploring whether their questions suggest they view climate change as psychologically proximal or distant. Children aged 10–12 from 14 UK schools took part in an online event, asking scientists questions in a ‘climate zone’. The questions were analysed using thematic analysis. The themes related to the nature and reality of climate change, its causes, impacts, and solutions. Participants seemed most exercised about the future impacts of and ways of ameliorating climate change, with some questions evoking science-fiction disaster imagery. The contents of participants’ questions elucidated the ways in which they position climate change as both a proximal and distant phenomenon.

气候变化对子孙后代构成严重威胁，但相对较少的研究检查儿童对这个问题的理解。这项研究考察了孩子们提出的有关气候变化的问题——而不是他们对成年人问题的回答——探索他们的问题是否表明他们认为气候变化在心理上是近的还是远的。来自英国 14 所学校的 10-12 岁儿童参加了在线活动，在“气候区”向科学家提问。使用主题分析对问题进行分析。主题与气候变化的性质和现实、其原因、影响和解决方案有关。参与者似乎对未来气候变化的影响和改善气候变化的方法最感兴趣，其中一些问题唤起了科幻小说中的灾难意象。