
Climate warriors down under: Contextualising Australia’s youth climate justice movement
This report explores the youth-led climate justice movement in Australia, focusing on the socio-political context and challenges young activists face. It highlights the role of non-violent, collective action, key groups such as the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, and the impact of climate-related litigation cases, while addressing barriers like media bias and anti-protest laws.
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OVERVIEW
Introduction
This report explores the socio-political environment that drives youth-led climate activism in Australia. Young Australians, being among the most vulnerable to climate change, are leading the movement for climate justice, using non-violent collective action. The report frames youth activism within the concept of climate justice, with a focus on the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters and the mental health challenges facing young people.
Theoretical framing and approach
The report applies Newell’s four pillars of climate justice—procedural, distributive, recognition, and intergenerational justice—to contextualise Australian youth climate activism. These pillars are used to highlight the structural inequalities young people seek to address through their advocacy. Notably, intergenerational justice is emphasised, underscoring the responsibility of today’s generation to ensure that future generations are not disproportionately harmed by climate change.
The Australian landscape: Disasters, mental health and youth climate activism
Australia has seen an increase in extreme climate-related events, including bushfires and floods. The 2019–2020 bushfires burned 46 million acres and killed 34 people, while the 2022 floods displaced thousands. Such events have had significant psychological impacts on young people, with 90% of those aged 16–25 reporting experience with a natural disaster in the last three years. This has led to rising levels of anxiety, grief, and anger. These statistics point to a growing concern among Australian youth about their future, with many turning to activism as a way to respond to these challenges.
Collective climate action for intergenerational and recognition climate justice: an Australian perspective
Youth-led organisations such as the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC), Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network (Seed Mob), and School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C) are leading the charge for climate justice. Their collective actions range from grassroots protests to institutional engagements like litigation. AYCC and Seed Mob, in particular, focus on educating young people to become leaders in climate advocacy. Seed Mob’s campaign against fracking in Northern Australia, for example, ties the environmental harm of fossil fuel extraction to issues of land rights and Indigenous self-determination. Both organisations promote peer-led learning and leadership, empowering young people to act as agents of change.
Youth-led climate litigation: An intergenerational justice perspective
The report discusses key legal cases like Sharma v Minister for the Environment, in which young Australians argued that the government has a duty of care to protect future generations from climate harm. Although the case was unsuccessful, it sparked crucial discussions about governmental responsibility. Another significant case, Youth Verdict v Waratah Mine, successfully blocked a coal mine due to its potential environmental and cultural impacts. These legal actions highlight the role of litigation in holding governments accountable for protecting the rights of future generations.
Barriers to climate activism in Australia
Youth climate activists in Australia face significant obstacles, including conservative media outlets that dismiss their efforts. The media often portrays young activists as naïve or overly emotional, limiting the public’s engagement with their concerns. Additionally, anti-protest laws in several states aim to suppress climate activism by imposing heavy fines and imprisonment for protestors. These barriers undermine young people’s ability to exercise their political agency and advocate for meaningful climate action. The report highlights the need for legislative reforms to support rather than hinder youth activism.