The Impacts of Disruptive Climate Activism
Is disruptive activism the answer to our climate problem? Learn more here.
What is disruptive climate activism?
Disruptive climate activism is just as the term describes. This is activism done to disrupt the everyday lives of others in hopes of drawing attention to the more significant issue at hand. Climate activist groups employ attention-grabbing tactics to bring the public’s focus to climate issues. Groups such as Extinction Rebellion have blocked off roads and bridges, smashed the windows of banks, and even gone as far as to spray fake blood onto buildings.
These protests have succeeded in gaining attention. They also have succeeded in attracting criticism for delaying and disrupting everyday lives.
Has climate activism gone digital?
Social media has evolved to be an astounding platform for climate change activists to enact change within the environmental space. The best part? It is an inclusive, decentralized structure, allowing activists to be involved from anywhere in the world.
Social media accounts and organizations have dedicated their spaces to inform and educate the public about the current state of affairs on climate change and ways they can get involved. Sustainability influencers have taken audiences by storm and provide valuable insight into sustainable products and offerings.
Climate change group 350.org has been claimed to pioneer this form of digital organizing since 2009, with their global climate action days. Climate change group Fridays for the Future hold activists with a spectrum of political views and work to hold governments accountable for treaties such as the Paris Agreement.
It turns out taking climate change online has helped speed up treaties and other agreements. Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged that Fridays for Future expedited the nation’s response to climate change.
Does it help or hinder?
Disruptive activism takes extreme actions to draw attention to climate issues. However, there are mixed opinions on whether it results in actual change. In the Forbes article, Art or Life, the writer recounts the experience of the Just Stop Oil Van Gogh demonstration. The art world responded to the protestors with extreme anger. “Where is that emotional response when it’s our people and our planet being destroyed?” (Activist) Plummer wondered, “When we’re set to lose real sunflowers?”. It may seem unimpactful. Why would throwing a liquid at an art piece be called climate activism? The impact truly lies in how the media responds to the demonstrations. The audacity and willingness of activists to undergo legal consequences in the name of the planet are where the impact can be realized. The conversation and concern about the environment can be juxtaposed with our everyday lives through unconventional actions.
Some may see these demonstrations as unnecessary and harmful to the name of green movements. Disruptive climate activism seemingly is effective at being radical enough to drive onlookers to the seriousness of the situation.
Eric Shuman studies the psychology of protest and collective action at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. He stated that protests such as peaceful gatherings and petitions comply with societal norms and are more effective at gaining support from people who are sympathetic to the cause. Yet, he also stated that if the goal is to change the policy support to those who otherwise show indifference to climate change causes, disruptive protests have been shown to result in changing their indifference. By causing disruption, they put pressure on them to make the change so that it will cease.
Climate activists use diverse tactics, yet with disruptive tactics, there is a larger likelihood that there will be a response to be drawn to the issue.
Emma Brown, a spokesperson for Just Stop Oil, told PBS Newshour, “We’re going to be noisy. We’re going to be disruptive. We’re going to be unignorable. We’ll be a pain in the ass until you listen to us.”
In a survey conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change communication, it was found that one-fifth of Americans under 40 say they would participate in civil disobedience for climate change if asked to.
The ultimate impact of disruptive climate change is that these demonstrations make people think about climate change and refuse to let them ignore it. The unpopularity and controversiality of these types of actions arise when people decide they are angry about being confronted with climate change.
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Key Takeaways
Disruptive climate activism is just as the term describes. This is activism done to disrupt the everyday lives of others in hopes of drawing attention to the more significant issue at hand.
These protests have succeeded in gaining attention. They also have succeeded in attracting criticism for delaying and disrupting everyday lives.
Disruptive activism takes extreme actions to draw attention to climate issues. However, there are mixed opinions on whether it results in actual change.
Social media has evolved to be an astounding platform for climate change activists to enact change within the environmental space. The best part? It is an inclusive, decentralized structure, allowing activists to be involved from anywhere in the world.
The ultimate impact of disruptive climate change is that these demonstrations make people think about climate change and refuse to let them ignore it. The unpopularity and controversiality of these types of actions arise when people decide they are angry about being confronted with climate change.
When you join our eco-activist group, you will support us in exposing greenwashing, bringing eco-news to light, and keeping you up to date with campaigns you can take part in to enact change.
