ABSTRACT
This chapter engages a phenomenon which is a recurring theme throughout the book with all its social-political-ecological repercussions: young people’s climate activism which at the turn of the 2020 took the world by surprise due to its global nature, public visibility and political influence. The authors provide a general background on the phenomenon but focus more closely on the development and effects of the climate movement in Finland. The authors are particularly interested in the effects of youth activism on the climate debate and policies drawn in various democratic decision-making arenas. They note the tensions that exist between the young activists, who have stressed the importance of science for climate decisions, and the adult-centred society, which often ignores or altogether dismisses young people’s arguments and activism. As the authors conclude, in the debate and research on youth, the idea of how to “make the voice of young people heard” has long been alive. The climate movement of young people has intriguingly reversed these roles. Now, young people are the ones who make the voices of science and research heard. Science provides a backbone for the demands of young people, but it also bridges societal debates.
