The survey, commissioned by JWT, the largest advertising agency in the US, found that more than 80% of Americans between 13 and 19 years of age were ‘bothered’ by their country’s status as one of the world’s heaviest polluters, while 54% were ’strongly bothered’.

In further statistics that ought to give hope to the rest of us, 61% said that they felt their generation would take environmental responsibility more seriously than their parents and grandparents, while 78% felt there was still time to save the world from the ravages of the past.

The survey was inspired by the founding of RelightNY, an organisation set up by a group of US teenagers to spread awareness of global warming and individual responsibility in fighting it. The initiative will also use corporate sponsorship to fund projects that will include distributing free low-energy light bulbs to low-income families.

JWT Worldwide CEO Bob Jeffrey explained why the agency got involved in the campaign. “The environment is clearly one of the biggest issues of the day. So when [RelightNY founder] 15-year-old Avery Hairston asked me for help getting the word out about RelightNY, the environmental organisation he and his friends were starting, he inspired us to take a look at how other American teens think about the environment.”

Although the survey revealed that American teenagers believe that they have a responsibility to work on helping the environment, around two-thirds believed that both government and the corporate world should take the lead on environmental affairs.

Click here for RelightNY website