What Future Are We Studying For? School Engagement and Youth Agency in the Youth Climate Movement

There can be no doubt: human activities are the unequivocal cause of contemporary global warming (IPCC, 2023). The effects of anthropogenic climate change are already being felt worldwide, including loss and damage to both human and natural systems, with vulnerable populations bearing a disproportionate burden (IPCC, 2023). As younger generations will experience the impacts of climate change more severely in scope, severity, and duration, urgent action is necessary to mitigate and adapt to its effects. The fact that so many young people are actively advocating for climate action clearly indicates the urgency of the matter. The time for action is now, and urgent steps must be taken to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change before it is too late. Consequently, youth voices on climate change have never been more critical or widely publicized. The study of youth climate activists has grown significantly in recent years, but there is still a debate regarding their role in addressing climate change through political participation. Studying youth climate activism is essential to understanding how and why they have become such an influential force in the movement. In this dissertation, I investigate what drives young people to lead in the climate movement, examining what elevates youth concern about climate change, the role of family, friends, and schools in shaping youth climate activism, and how youth activists construct their climate action networks. Through two qualitative and one quantitative analysis, this research contributes to the ongoing debate surrounding youth participation in political action on climate change. The findings emphasize the need to address structural inequalities and promote youth agency in climate education and activism, highlighting the challenges of intergenerational organizing. We must embrace the involvement of young people in the political process and provide them with the necessary platforms to express their views and contribute to climate policy development. Only by doing ...