As Donald Trump prepares for another presidency, young climate activists are refining their tactics by focusing on local policies and grassroots organizing.
Austyn Gaffney reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Youth climate groups like Sunrise Movement and Fridays for Future are shifting focus from mass protests to local policy and state-level action.
- Activists are disillusioned by stalled progress under Biden and are preparing for challenges under a second Trump administration.
- Strategies now emphasize climate justice and engaging various sectors of the economy in climate-related actions.
Key quote:
“It’s less about having young people be climate activists and more about having every sector of the economy thinking through how climate relates to them.”
— Elise Joshi, 22, Gen-Z for Change
Why this matters:
A second Trump presidency could see a rollback of climate policies, increasing the urgency for local and state action. Young activists recognize that broader societal engagement is crucial to combatting climate change and addressing environmental justice.
Read more: Christian climate activists aim to bridge faith and environmental action
