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Youth Mobilization to Stop Global Climate Change: Narratives and Impact

Author

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  • Heejin Han

    (Division of Global & Interdisciplinary Studies, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Korea)

  • Sang Wuk Ahn

    (Division of International & Area Studies, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Korea)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Heejin Han & Sang Wuk Ahn, 2020. "Youth Mobilization to Stop Global Climate Change: Narratives and Impact," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-23, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:10:p:4127-:d:359682
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Linnea A. Evans & Omar Gomez & Dulce J. Jiménez & Heather J. Williamson & Ann Turnlund Carver & Sairam Parthasarathy & Samantha Sabo, 2023. "Engaging Youth and Young Adults in the COVID-19 Pandemic Response via the “It’s Our Turn” Crowdsourcing Contest," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Olivier Boiral & Marie‐Christine Brotherton & Léo Rivaud & David Talbot, 2022. "Comparing the uncomparable? An investigation of car manufacturers' climate performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2213-2229, July.
    4. Daniel Stoecklin, 2021. "The Transactional Horizons of Greta Thunberg," Societies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-24, April.
    5. Alessandra Pollo & Irene Piccini & Jacopo Chiara & Elena Porro & Daniela Chiantore & Fabrizio Gili & Riccardo Alba & Andrea Barbi & Giuseppe Bogliani & Marco Bagliani & Alberto Doretto & Carlo Ruffino, 2022. "An Innovative Approach for Subnational Climate Adaptation of Biodiversity and Ecosystems: The Case Study of a Regional Strategy in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-25, May.
    6. Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag & Philippe Burny & Ioan Banatean-Dunea & Dacinia Crina Petrescu, 2022. "How Climate Change Science Is Reflected in People’s Minds. A Cross-Country Study on People’s Perceptions of Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-25, April.
    7. Jialing Huang & Janet Z. Yang & Haoran Chu, 2022. "Framing Climate Change Impacts as Moral Violations: The Pathway of Perceived Message Credibility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-19, April.
    8. Alfredo Pena-Vega & Marianne Cohen & Luis Manuel Flores & Hervé Le Treut & Marcelo Lagos & Juan Carlos Castilla & Aurora Gaxiola & Pablo Marquet, 2022. "Young People Are Changing Their Socio-Ecological Reality to Face Climate Change: Contrasting Transformative Youth Commitment with Division and Inertia of Governments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-18, November.
    9. Gabriele Prati & Iana Tzankova & Cinzia Albanesi & Elvira Cicognani, 2022. "Longitudinal Predictors of Perceived Climate Change Importance and Worry among Italian Youths: A Machine Learning Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-19, November.
    10. Saveria Olga Murielle Boulanger & Martina Massari, 2022. "Advocating Urban Transition: A Qualitative Review of Institutional and Grassroots Initiatives in Shaping Climate-Aware Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, February.
    11. Samar Ben Romdhane & Sang Lee & Salem Al-Shaebi, 2023. "Enhancing Sustainability Communication among UAE’s Higher Education Students: The Relationship between Sustainable Living Knowledge and Intention to Live Sustainably," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-14, August.
    12. Harriet Thew & Lucie Middlemiss & Jouni Paavola, 2022. "“You Need a Month’s Holiday Just to Get over It!” Exploring Young People’s Lived Experiences of the UN Climate Change Negotiations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-21, April.
    13. Carlie D. Trott, 2021. "Youth-Led Climate Change Action: Multi-Level Effects on Children, Families, and Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    14. Cato Waeterloos & Peter Conradie & Michel Walrave & Koen Ponnet, 2021. "Digital Issue Movements: Political Repertoires and Drivers of Participation among Belgian Youth in the Context of ‘School Strike for Climate’," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-19, September.
    15. Ali, Amjad & Esposito, Luca & Gatto, Andrea, 2023. "Energy transition and public behavior in Italy: A structural equation modeling," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    16. Radu Șimandan & Cristian Valeriu Păun & Bogdan Glăvan, 2023. "Post-Pandemic Greenness? How Central Banks Use Narratives to Become Green," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-28, January.
    17. Maria Giuseppina Bartolo & Rocco Servidio & Anna Lisa Palermiti & Maria Rosaria Nappa & Angela Costabile, 2023. "Pro-Environmental Behaviors and Well-Being in Adolescence: The Mediating Role of Place Attachment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-12, May.
    18. Nisbett, Nicole & Spaiser, Viktoria, 2022. "The Moral Power of Youth Climate Activists - Transforming International Climate Politics?," SocArXiv 5zsra, Center for Open Science.
    19. Sonia Martins Felix & Annette Lykknes & Ragnhild Lyngved Staberg, 2022. "Identifying the ‘Different we’s’ in Primary Teachers’ Education for Sustainable Development Discourse—A Positioning Theory Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-15, October.
    20. Franco Salerno, 2023. "The Greta Thunberg Effect on Climate Equity: A Worldwide Google Trend Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-13, April.
    21. Radtke, Jörg & Ohlhorst, Dörte, 2021. "Community Energy in Germany – Bowling Alone in Elite Clubs?," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    22. Christian Huggel & Laurens M. Bouwer & Sirkku Juhola & Reinhard Mechler & Veruska Muccione & Ben Orlove & Ivo Wallimann-Helmer, 2022. "The existential risk space of climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 174(1), pages 1-20, September.
    23. Adrian Brügger & Moritz Gubler & Katharine Steentjes & Stuart B. Capstick, 2020. "Social Identity and Risk Perception Explain Participation in the Swiss Youth Climate Strikes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-17, December.
    24. Saidatul Maisarah Faiesall & Sarah Hanani Ahmad Tajuddin & Andrew Jason George & Nur Hazirah Marzuki & Oliver Lacey-Hall & Jemilah Mahmood & Gopalasamy Reuben Clements & Renzo Guinto, 2023. "Mobilising the Next Generation of Planetary Health Leaders: The Dynamism of Youth Engagement in Malaysia," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, March.

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