New kids on the block: taking stock of the recent cycle of climate activism

TLDR

A global wave of mobilization by Fridays For Future and Extinction Rebellion since late 2018 has injected new energy into climate politics, positioning these movements as “new” forms of climate activism. The authors aim to reflect on and investigate how the “new climate activism” of FFF and XR differs from previous climate campaigns. The study finds that while FFF and XR initially surged globally, the Covid‑19 pandemic has partially muted them, and that their distinctiveness lies in a more politically neutral framing targeting state actors, with both change and continuity in participation.

Abstract

Since late 2018, a global wave of mobilization under the banners of Fridays For Future (FFF) and Extinction Rebellion (XR) has injected new energy into global climate politics. FFF and XR took the world by storm, but have now been forced into (partial) latency as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. We believe this moment presents an opportunity for reflection. In particular, FFF and XR have been depicted as 'new' forms of climate activism. However, we argue that the extent to which these campaigns represent 'new' forms of climate activism is really a matter for closer investigation. In this Profile, we therefore reflect on the distinctiveness of the 'new climate activism' as compared to previous climate campaigns. Reviewing previous studies and our own research, we find that there are both elements of change and continuity in who participates and how, and that the main change appears to be the use of a more politically 'neutral' framing of climate change that is directed more strongly at state than non-state actors.