Youth Movement Takes to the Streets to Demand Climate Policy

“You are failing us. But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you.” — Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg, the world-famous Swedish environmental activist and youth climate strike leader, took the international stage at the United Nations Climate Action Summit on September 23rd to discuss the failure of governments to address the climate crisis. In a five-minute speech, Thunberg lambasted world leaders for focusing on economic growth over the lives of people in the face of significant challenges including extreme weather events, sea level rise, and mass extinction.

Greta Thunberg is quickly becoming a household name, but she is just one of many leaders in the youth climate movement. Since Thunberg’s first school strike over a year ago, young people around the world have joined her in action. Last Friday, September 20th, over 4 million people appeared at climate strikes around the globe. Many intend to demonstrate every Friday, in what is being called Fridays for Future, a continuation of the strikes that Greta started alone last year. These young people are carrying the movement forward, but as Thunberg points out, “I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean.” It is the responsibility of decision-makers in government and industry to decarbonize the economy and safeguard communities from climate impacts, not a sixteen-year-old student.

Decision-makers have made some progress in recent months on climate issues, as public opinion on the need for government climate action strengthens and the youth climate movement takes to the streets. There is now a House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, which is holding weekly hearings on climate change impacts and solutions. The 116th Congress has proposed a flurry of climate legislation including a series of carbon pricing proposals, a Senate bill protecting states’ rights to set tailpipe emissions standards, and a House resolution to support teaching climate change in schools.

Some industries are also promising to reduce emissions, and a new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) update shows wind power generating capacity doubling and solar power generating capacity almost tripling by 2022. Such forecasts are a clear sign that many companies are committing to renewable energy.

The bills put forward by the House and Senate signal increased focus on climate, yet the growing list of introduced legislation faces a long, and unlikely, path to becoming law this session. Similarly, corporate commitments require significant action before goals are achieved. The growth of the youth climate movement is, therefore, unlikely to slow down or reverse. The school strikes started by Greta Thunberg are continuing every Friday around the world, and civil disobedience groups have organized a campaign of global disruptions starting October 7th, following the lead of the Extinction Rebellion’s events in London and Washington D.C. earlier last week.

 

Author: George Davidson