Climate activism: between hopes, challenges and new strategies

In recent years, climate activism has gained unprecedented visibility, transforming into a global movement that mobilizes millions of young people, and not only. But which strategies have proven to be truly effective and which need a change of direction? Researchers Laura Thomas-Walters, Eric G. Scheuch, Abby Ong and Matthew H. Goldberg of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication at Yale University, in the United States, tried to answer this question.

The researchers analyzed 50 studies on the effects of climate activism, mapping the available evidence. “Our analyses show strong evidence that activism influences public opinion and media coverage in a climate-friendly direction, although the impact varies depending on the context and the strategies adopted,” explain the authors in the presentation of the results of the study “The impacts of climate activism”.

According to them, there is evidence that activism can push policy makers to communicate more about climate change, encourage voters to vote more pro-climate and put financial pressure on carbon-intensive companies.

The study then analyzed the dynamics of climate activism, highlighting its successes and the challenges to be faced in order to achieve concrete results. Here’s a list of the key points.

The strength of the youth movement

The first data that stands out is the importance of the youth. The Fridays for Future movement, born from Greta Thunberg’s protests, has shown that the voice of the new generations has a huge impact on public opinion and politics. The global demonstrations, which brought millions of young people to the streets, have forced the media and governments to take the climate crisis seriously. The study highlights that youth activism has the power to raise awareness in society and push institutions to consider the climate emergency as a priority. However, mobilization in the streets alone is not enough: it is necessary to build bridges with the political world and with institutions to transform the protest into concrete action.

The effectiveness of communication

One of the most interesting aspects that emerged from the study concerns the way in which the message on climate change is spread. Emotional communication, based on personal stories and strong images, has proven more effective in engaging the public than simple scientific data.

However, the risk of falling into “climate fatigue” – that is, the sense of impotence and frustration that leads people to detach themselves from the problem – is real. For this reason, activists are trying to combine denunciation with concrete solutions and success stories, demonstrating that change is possible.

The importance of alliances

Another crucial aspect that emerged from the research is that climate activism cannot act alone. Collaborations with scientific experts, journalists and politicians are essential to ensure that the movement’s demands are based on solid data and can be translated into effective policies.

The study shows how alliances with historic environmental organizations have allowed young activists to have more weight in international negotiations. At the same time, however, the movement risks losing its identity if it is too tied to institutional dynamics. The challenge is to find a balance between radicality and collaboration.

Young people from the Global South are lacking visibility

A critical point that emerges from the research is the need to make the movement more inclusive. Today, climate activism is still too dominated by Western voices and young people from privileged backgrounds. However, it is the communities of the Global South that suffer the most severe impacts of the climate crisis.

To make the fight against climate change truly global, it is essential to amplify the voices of indigenous peoples, vulnerable communities and those who live in areas already affected by environmental disasters. Only in this way can we build a movement capable of representing all the people involved.

What awaits us?

The study concludes that climate activism has already achieved important results, but it needs to evolve to be even more effective. The key to the future will be to combine mobilization with political strategies, maintaining public attention without falling into despair.

If there is one thing that this study teaches us, it is that climate activism is not just a protest, but a battle for everyone’s future. And, like every battle, it requires intelligent strategies, strong alliances and communication capable of involving the entire world.

by Paulo Lima, Jangada

photo by Kevin Snyman/ Pixabay