School strikes for the climate. A bold campaign for a Green New Deal. Fossil fuel divestment. Over the last few years, these and other youth-driven climate initiatives have grabbed the public’s attention and irrevocably altered the dialogue about climate change in the United States. But where did this unprecedented wave of activism come from?
Movement Makers tells the behind-the-scenes story of how climate campaigns led by young people grew into a mass uprising, drawing on interviews with over 100 current and former youth leaders. Get ready to hear insights from climate march organizer Jamie Margolin, Indigenous rights advocate Evon Peter, Energy Action Coalition founder Billy Parish, Dakota Access pipeline fighters Joseph White Eyes and Morgan Brings Plenty, and other leaders of organizations including Sunrise Movement, Zero Hour, Power Shift Network, 350.org, Indigenous Environmental Network, and more.
No previous book has covered the U.S. youth climate movement in such a comprehensive way, showing how two decades of organizing laid the foundation for seismic shifts in our national politics. This updated edition brings the story up to the present, including an analysis of how policy wins driven by youth activism are reshaping the energy landscape. Prepare to be amazed at the meteoric rise of a movement fighting for young people’s future–and be inspired to find your place in it.
Table of Content
Acknowledgements
Introduction: When Youth are ‘The Adults’
Part I: A Movement Rising
1. Generation Climate
2. No Time for Small Ideas
3. Money Talks
Part II: Tangled Origins
4. News from the Frontlines
5. Moving the Elephant
6. A Stand Worth Taking
7. Tar Sands Wars
8. Oppose All Pipelines
Part III: Preparing for the Next Wave
9. The Challenge of Here and Now
10. The Movement of the Future
11. Keeping Hope Alive
Conclusion: As the Smoky Skies Clear
Timeline
Notes