Working-class youth participation in climate action: networks, civic experience, and equity

Abstract Research on individual participation in climate action largely focuses on middle class environmental activism around protest events. To better understand the expansion of civic engagement on climate issues, more work needs to be carried out on wider sectors of the population. This study exa...

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Main Authors: Rasha Naseif, Isabelle Haddad, Paul Almeida
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:npj Climate Action
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-024-00205-2
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author Rasha Naseif
Isabelle Haddad
Paul Almeida
author_facet Rasha Naseif
Isabelle Haddad
Paul Almeida
author_sort Rasha Naseif
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Research on individual participation in climate action largely focuses on middle class environmental activism around protest events. To better understand the expansion of civic engagement on climate issues, more work needs to be carried out on wider sectors of the population. This study examines the drivers associated with involvement in climate action at the individual level with a survey sample of working-class youth of color. The findings suggest that youth embedded in pro-climate social networks, a history of civic engagement, and an equity belief system increase willingness to participate in several forms of climate action, including climate meetings, demonstrations, and inviting others to participate. For larger climate action initiatives to overcome the barriers of participation, linking to specific pools of sympathy in civil society that value economic equality may provide a mass base of support for policies consistent with just transition perspectives.
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series npj Climate Action
spelling doaj-art-dde776a1885d46d885a4dfecb0d8ae9c2025-01-19T12:43:33ZengNature Portfolionpj Climate Action2731-98142025-01-01411510.1038/s44168-024-00205-2Working-class youth participation in climate action: networks, civic experience, and equityRasha Naseif0Isabelle Haddad1Paul Almeida2University of California, San DiegoUniversity of California, MercedDepartment of Sociology and Environmental Systems, University of California, MercedAbstract Research on individual participation in climate action largely focuses on middle class environmental activism around protest events. To better understand the expansion of civic engagement on climate issues, more work needs to be carried out on wider sectors of the population. This study examines the drivers associated with involvement in climate action at the individual level with a survey sample of working-class youth of color. The findings suggest that youth embedded in pro-climate social networks, a history of civic engagement, and an equity belief system increase willingness to participate in several forms of climate action, including climate meetings, demonstrations, and inviting others to participate. For larger climate action initiatives to overcome the barriers of participation, linking to specific pools of sympathy in civil society that value economic equality may provide a mass base of support for policies consistent with just transition perspectives.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-024-00205-2
spellingShingle Rasha Naseif
Isabelle Haddad
Paul Almeida
Working-class youth participation in climate action: networks, civic experience, and equity
npj Climate Action
title Working-class youth participation in climate action: networks, civic experience, and equity
title_full Working-class youth participation in climate action: networks, civic experience, and equity
title_fullStr Working-class youth participation in climate action: networks, civic experience, and equity
title_full_unstemmed Working-class youth participation in climate action: networks, civic experience, and equity
title_short Working-class youth participation in climate action: networks, civic experience, and equity
title_sort working class youth participation in climate action networks civic experience and equity
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-024-00205-2
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