Youth Mobilization to Stop Global Climate Change: Narratives and Impact

Heejin Han,Sang Wuk Ahn

doi:10.3390/su12104127

Abstract

Galvanized by Greta Thunberg’s idea for Friday school strikes, “climate strikes” emerged in 2018 and 2019 as a form of youth social movement demanding far-reaching action on climate change. Youths have taken various actions to combat climate change, but academics have not paid sufficient attention to youth climate mobilization. This study thus examines the questions of what has motivated youth to mobilize and how they have shaped global climate politics and governance. This study focuses particularly on the narrative of youth activists to address their understanding of climate change and their ideas regarding how to respond to it. Youth collective action has succeeded in problematizing global climate inaction and inertia and in framing climate change from a justice perspective, but activists have faced limitations in converting their moral legitimacy into the power required for sweeping changes. Overall, this study demonstrates the emergence of young people as agents of change in the global climate change arena and the urgency of engaging them in climate change governance and policymaking.

Highlights

Climate change is one of the most urgent issues confronting the international community
This study discussed the emergence of young people as agents of change leading a global climate movement, examining their achievements and limitations
The 2018–2019 youth movement around climate change was unprecedented in terms of its scale, young people have led various forms of social movements throughout history [67]

Summary

Introduction

Climate change is one of the most urgent issues confronting the international community. During the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (known as the Earth Summit) in 1992 and in the subsequent Agenda 21, nine major groups were designated as channels for achieving the world’s sustainable development goals. Conference on Environment and Development (known as the Earth Summit) in 1992 and in the subsequent Agenda 21, nine major groups were designated as channels for achieving the world’s sustainable development goals Those groups included women, children and youth, indigenous peoples, farmers, business and industry, labor and trade unions, science and technology, local authorities, and NGOs. Existing studies have discussed their engagement with and participation in climate activism [3,4,5,6,7,8,9].

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