NEW YORK, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 80% of American teens are bothered by the fact that the U.S. represents one of the world's leading sources of pollution, and more than half (54%) are strongly bothered by it. Indeed, a majority of teens (61%) actively agree that their generation will be more environmentally responsible than older generations, and more than three-quarters (78%) believe there is still time to repair the damage already done to the environment.

A random and representative sample of 767 U.S. teens participated in an online survey commissioned by JWT to sound out current teen views on the environment. The majority of respondents ranged from 13 to 19 years old; the mean age was 14.6.

"The environment is clearly one of the biggest issues of the day," said Bob Jeffrey, chairman and CEO of JWT Worldwide. "So when 15-year-old Avery Hairston asked me for help getting the word out about RelightNY, the environmental organization he and his friends were starting, he inspired us to take a look at how other American teens think about the environment."

JWT signed on as a sponsor of RelightNY in late 2006. RelightNY will distribute energy-saving compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs to low-income families in an effort to educate and inspire everyone to take action and live in ways that protect the earth's environment for current and future generations.

The survey reveals that American teens are ready to take their share of responsibility for the environment, and they're not waiting for the government or corporations to step in: More than three-quarters (77%) agree with the statement that it's their responsibility to help save the environment, and only a few (8%) actively disagree that it's their responsibility.

Still, most teens see a large role for both governments and corporations: About two-thirds (67%) agree with the statement that government should take the majority of the responsibility for saving the environment, and just 12% disagree. More than half (59%) believe corporations should take the majority of the responsibility for saving the environment. And as many as 80% believe corporations should obey an ethical code of conduct regarding the environment.

Are teens themselves actually taking action? While a lukewarm 41% of teens say they encourage their family to buy environmentally responsible products and brands, a much larger 75% say they would buy products or services that help the environment if they were more widely available. More than half (52%) say they have deliberately and consciously cut down on unnecessary energy usage, but almost two-thirds (65%) still think they don't conserve energy as much as they should.

The study also showed that teen awareness of environmental issues has grown since Hurricane Katrina turned climate change into a hot issue. Three-quarters of respondents (75%) say they know more about environmental issues than they did a year ago. What's more, two-thirds of respondents (66%) say they care more about environmental issues than they did a year ago, while only 10% don't care more. And more than a quarter of teens (28%) mentioned the environment when asked what they think about often.

"It was reassuring to learn that the concern that Avery Hairston and his friends have demonstrated is not an anomaly," said Jeffrey, who is serving as co-chair of RelightNY's Adult Advisory Committee. "I'm happy to put the full resources of JWT behind their effort. One is never too young to understand the concept of giving back, and these young men are to be congratulated for spearheading this important effort."

While some might argue that teens don't fully understand the climate-change debate, Jeffrey noted that teens have a much longer future to worry about than adults do. "Today's teens will be living with environmental issues their whole lives. It's an area that really matters to them, and corporations and politicians who show leadership and take action have an opportunity to establish long-lasting equity with this generation," said Jeffrey. "But it can't be 'greenwash.' Teens understand that the issues are complex, and they want to see principles in action, not superficial marketing tactics."

RelightNY's Launch Breakfast

To attend RelightNY's launch breakfast on Friday, March 23 from 8:30-10:00 a.m. at JWT, 466 Lexington Avenue at 45th Street, please RSVP to Matthew Haggerty (matthew.haggerty@jwt.com; 212-210-7347).

About JWT

JWT, which celebrates its 143rd anniversary this year, ranks as the largest advertising agency brand in the United States and as the fourth largest full-service network in the world. Its parent company is WPP .

About RelightNY

RelightNY is an environmental awareness group founded to promote understanding of the role energy conservation plays in reversing global climate change. Through fundraising, it will provide energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs to low-income households with the hope that all New Yorkers will follow suit. Led by a nine-member Teen Advisory Board, RelightNY aims to prove that people of all ages can make a difference in the fight against global warming. The Teen Advisory Board is comprised of Avery Hairston (Founder), Daniel Bernstein, Peter Chapin, Peter Ginsberg, Brendan Harvey, Taiki Kasuga, Will Pagano, Jack Schlossberg and Stephen Todres. For more information on RelightNY, please visit the Web site at www.relightNY.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Eric Robertson, JWT 212-210-7336 eric.robertson@jwt.com