UK students paint bleak picture of future civilization

IRNA
 
British students are overwhelming pessimistic about the future of human civilization, painting a bleak picture of social and environmental degradation in the next 25 years, according to a new survey published Wednesday.

More than three quarters of students, 78 per cent, believe serious change is needed if society is going to survive into the next century.

Only 16 per cent said they believe the British government is doing 'a lot' to bring about change. Less than a quarter thought Prime Minister Gordon Brown is genuinely committed to tackling climate change.

Asked what life would be like in 2032, the overwhelming majority view was that oil will be prohibitively expensive, climate change will be affecting their lives, be more natural disasters and inequality will have increased both in the UK and the world.

More than half, 53 per cent, even believed that a nuclear weapon would have been used.

The 2007-08 Future Leaders Survey was carried out by the sustainable development charity Forum for the Future in partnership with UCAS, which centrally manages student applications for British universities.

Commenting on the findings, Peter Madden, the chief executive of Forum for the Future, said that students were fully aware of the damage human being were doing to the planet but had a chance to save it.

UCAS chief executive Anthony McClaran said the survey provides a fascinating insight into university applicants and their hopes and fears for the future.

"It's a timely reminder to everyone working in the higher education sector of the importance that students place on the delivery of the tools and resources needed to continue to secure a sustainable future," McClaren said.