Early adolescence (12–13 years old) is a critical but under-researched demographic for the formation of attitudes related to climate change. We address this important area by exploring adolescent views about climate change. This paper presents opinions collected from surveys of 463 1st-year secondary school students (12–13 years old) in public secondary schools in inner-urban centres in Austria and Australia on whether climate change is (1) something about which to worry, (2) caused by humans and (3) happening now. Eligible respondents in both countries showed similar levels of agreement that climate change was probably or definitely something we should (1) worry about (84.6% Austria, 89.1% Australia), which is significantly higher than either country’s adult population. Eligible respondents agreed that climate change probably or definitely is (2) caused by humans (75.6% Austria, 83.6% Australia) and that climate change is probably or definitely something that is (3) happening now (73.1% Austria, 87.5% Australia). Their response differed from the respective adult populations, but in opposite directions. Our results suggest that socio-cultural worldview may not have as much influence on this age group as it does on the respective adult populations and suggests that this age group would be receptive and ready for climate science education and engagement initiatives.

青春期早期（12-13 岁）是形成与气候变化相关的态度的关键但研究不足的人群。我们通过探索青少年对气候变化的看法来解决这一重要领域。本文介绍了对奥地利和澳大利亚内城中心公立中学的 463 名一年级中学学生（12-13 岁）的调查收集的关于气候变化是否（1）值得担心的问题，（ 2) 由人类引起，(3) 现在发生。两国符合条件的受访者对气候变化可能或肯定是我们应该（1）担心（84.6% 奥地利，89.1% 澳大利亚）的共识程度相似，这明显高于任何一个国家的成年人口。符合条件的受访者同意气候变化可能或肯定是（2）由人类引起的（75.6% 奥地利，83.6% 澳大利亚），气候变化可能或肯定是（3）现在正在发生的事情（73.1% 奥地利，87.5% 澳大利亚） . 他们的反应与各自的成年人口不同，但方向相反。我们的研究结果表明，社会文化世界观对这个年龄组的影响可能不如对相应成年人口的影响那么大，并表明这个年龄组将乐于接受并为气候科学教育和参与计划做好准备。但在相反的方向。我们的研究结果表明，社会文化世界观对这个年龄组的影响可能不如对相应成年人口的影响那么大，并表明这个年龄组将乐于接受并为气候科学教育和参与计划做好准备。但在相反的方向。我们的研究结果表明，社会文化世界观对这个年龄组的影响可能不如对相应成年人口的影响那么大，并表明这个年龄组将乐于接受并为气候科学教育和参与计划做好准备。