Young people’s climate and environmental activism has gained much attention in recent years. Young activists are raising awareness and concern about climate change and intersecting injustices, while hoping for more sustainable democracies, in a kinder world. By protesting in large numbers around the world about political and corporate inaction on climate change, young people have been disrupting the political status quo and negative stereotypes about their alleged disinterest in politics. Young activists have been adopting, adapting and expanding the repertoire of contention, using deliberately disruptive tactics and their actions can be understood as Do-It-Ourselves (DIO) politics. This chapter discusses how and why the ongoing wave of youth-led and youth-supported climate and environmental activism is disruptive. First, it focusses on young climate and environmental activists as disruptors (actors). Next, it deals with the goals and demands of young climate and environmental activists’ protests (aims). Last, the chapter looks at the protest tactics carried out by young climate and environmental activists (actions). As youth political engagement is often overlooked or dismissed, disruptive DIO politics is a way for young climate and environmental activists to shift the status quo by making their voices heard about an issue of great concern to them.
Référence bibliographique
Pickard, S. (2024). Disruptive Do-It-Ourselves politics: Young climate and environmental activists. Dans J. Bessant, P. Collin et P. O’Keefe (dir.), Research Handbook on the Sociology of Youth (p. 254-267). Edward Elgar Publishing.
