Climate Activism and Resistance
What is pipeline sabotage as discussed by Andreas Malm?
A radical tactic involving the deliberate destruction of fossil fuel infrastructure as a form of climate protest.
What is the Social Power Approach discussed by Sweeney and Treat?
An approach that focuses on collective worker power to achieve both environmental and social justice through systemic change.
What inspired the global youth climate strikes according to Heejin Han and Sang Wuk Ahn?
Greta Thunberg’s school strikes for climate, which sparked widespread youth mobilization demanding climate justice.
What is biojustice environmentalism, as described by Dauvergne and Clapp?
A grassroots movement combining ecological integrity with social justice, challenging capitalist and neoliberal approaches to environmental governance.
What is Just Transition in the context of labor and climate policy?
A framework for transitioning to a sustainable economy that prioritizes workers' rights, job creation, and environmental protection.
What was the main target of climate activists according to Malm?
Oil pipelines, which are viewed as key contributors to climate change.
How do Sweeney and Treat define socioeconomic transformation?
A deep transformation of the economy and society needed to address the climate crisis, focusing on justice for workers and environmental sustainability.
How do youth activists frame their climate action?
They frame climate change as a justice issue, demanding that political leaders address the moral responsibility of protecting future generations.
How does biojustice environmentalism differ from mainstream environmentalism?
It is more diverse and justice-focused, rejecting past approaches like state-mandated population control and corporate-led multistakeholder initiatives.
What are green jobs?
Employment in industries that contribute to reducing environmental impacts, such as renewable energy, which are key to a Just Transition.
What does Malm argue about non-violent civil disobedience?
He argues that while morally justified, non-violent civil disobedience often fails to disrupt the operations of the fossil fuel industry.
What role do trade unions play in climate action, according to Sweeney and Treat?
Trade unions advocate for Just Transition, ensuring that workers' rights are protected as economies shift towards sustainability.
What is the key challenge youth movements face in achieving their goals?
Despite their moral legitimacy, youth movements often struggle to convert their activism into the political power needed for sweeping policy changes.
What are the core drivers of ecological damage according to biojustice environmentalists?
Capitalism, colonialism, racism, and neoliberalism are seen as the core drivers of ecological destruction and inequality.
What role did trade unions play in the Paris Climate Agreement?
Unions successfully lobbied to include Just Transition in the preamble, emphasizing the need to protect workers during the climate transition.
What historical movement does Malm compare to modern climate activism?
The suffragette movement, which also used property destruction as a tactic for social change.
Why do Sweeney and Treat criticize the “green growth” narrative?
They argue that green growth often focuses on market-based solutions that fail to challenge existing power structures or achieve deep socioeconomic transformation.
How do youth activists use narratives in their mobilization efforts?
They use narratives to frame themselves as agents of change, highlighting their role as victims of inaction and as heroes fighting for a sustainable future.
How does polycentric governance relate to biojustice environmentalism?
Polycentric governance involves multiple stakeholders and self-organizing nodes, providing opportunities for biojustice goals but also risks co-optation by market interests.
How do trade unions view the current progress toward Just Transition?
While the concept has gained traction, actual implementation is lagging, with many workers still vulnerable to job losses in carbon-intensive sectors.
What does Malm mean by 'climate fatalism'?
The belief that the climate crisis is inevitable and insurmountable, leading to despair and inaction.
What does Sweeney and Treat say about the limitations of Social Dialogue?
They argue that while Social Dialogue is important, it does not go far enough to challenge the power structures needed for a Just Transition.
What was the significance of Severn Cullis-Suzuki's speech at the 1992 Earth Summit?
Her speech, like Greta Thunberg’s later activism, represented youth standing up against older generations' decisions that impact their future.
What is the role of Indigenous peoples in biojustice environmentalism?
Indigenous peoples are key actors, challenging capitalist extractivism and advocating for justice-centered, ecologically responsible governance.
Why do Sweeney and Treat argue that the transition to a low-carbon economy is not inevitable?
They argue that without radical restructuring of the global political economy, the transition will not happen, as current trends are moving in the wrong direction.