From apathy through anxiety to action: emotions as motivators for youth climate strike leaders

The climate strikes of 2019 motivated millions worldwide onto the street and provided a platform for youth voices that demanded global climate action. This article explores the experiences of climate strike leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand questioning the motivational factors behind the youth action....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australian journal of environmental education 2022-03, Vol.38 (1), p.13-25
Main Authors: Bright, Maria L., Eames, Chris
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activism
Anxiety
Apathy
Classrooms
Climate
Climate action
Climate change
Collective action
Education
Educational Research
Emotional behavior
Emotions
Foreign Countries
Global climate
Leaders
Leadership
Mental disorders
Motivation
Museums
Pedagogy
Power
Psychological Patterns
Schools
Secondary School Teachers
Society
Strikes
Student Participation
Students
Sustainability
Teachers
Values
Youth
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Summary:The climate strikes of 2019 motivated millions worldwide onto the street and provided a platform for youth voices that demanded global climate action. This article explores the experiences of climate strike leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand questioning the motivational factors behind the youth action. In-depth interviews with 15 climate strike leaders identified emotions that influenced engagement and could motivate action. Climate strike leaders reported experiencing a series of turbulent emotional stages from apathy to action. Their experiences suggest that anxiety and anger are important stages in the emotional journey towards action. Using Boler’s Pedagogy of Discomfort, this paper examines these emotional stages that can disable or enable action. Considering youth perspectives increases our understanding of a suitable climate change educational framework that potentially supports both educators and students on this challenging journey.
ISSN:0814-0626
2049-775X
DOI:10.1017/aee.2021.22