Climate Change and Youth Participation in Small Island Developing States

In the face of escalating environmental crises, including rising sea levels and extreme weather events, there arises a critical question: Does the exacerbation of these crises serve as a catalyst for heightened civic participation, or does it breed disengagement among the youth population? This ethnographic research delves into the intricate interplay between direct crisis impact and youth climate activism, focusing particularly on the context of the Pacific Islands and other small island developing states. Drawing upon interviews with youth climate activists at the UN climate conference COP28 as well as participatory research in the Solomon Islands, this research investigates the nuanced responses of young activists to environmental adversities. The research findings reveal that activists from most affected regions argue that they see a need for their participation in climate action on local and global level due to the urgency of the climate crisis as their physical and cultural survival depends on it. Despite expressing a reluctance to attend global negotiations such as COP28, participants indicated a sense of responsibility due to the lack of viable alternatives. In addition, observations imply that youth activists who faced existential threats through climate change themselves showed more empathy and solidarity towards other populations facing ecocide and genocide. This was particularly evident in rallies and protests at COP28.
This study makes two critical empirical contributions to Youth and Social Movement Studies: Firstly, it provides empirical evidence that suggests a strong connection between direct impact of the climate crisis and increased civic participation. Secondly, it suggests that empathy and solidarity play a role for engaging in civic participation for matters without direct personal impact. Additionally, it offers methodological contributions through a reflection of meaningful cooperation between activists and academics.