ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses specificities of youth environmental activism in the twenty-first century. It addresses why and how young people are involved in environmental movements on a global scale, as well as political responses. The chapter draws on existing literature and interviews with young climate strikers (Fridays for Future) and Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists. Young people living precarious lives are being and have been politically socialized during a period of successive crises, including political inertia on environmental degradation. But they also benefit from unprecedented capital and are more likely to share socially liberal values. This period effect is marked by young people using their agency to take collective initiatives, such as Do-It-Ourselves (DIO) politics and being increasingly mobilized in horizontal environmental movements, using non-violent direct action to protest. Young environmental activists are attempting to create significant change from politicians whose own reactions often underline the age and life stage of this cohort.
