In the past three years, I’ve spoken in front of state congressional committees, organized mass strikes, been harassed by grown men for protesting, had fake oil poured on my head, and sued the United States federal government. Yet, when asked about my extra-curricular activities, I always feel weird placing environmentalism in that category: the anxiety, anger, passion, and love that define climate activism just don’t fit within that label.
Not to be an alarmist or anything, but every single other activity in life relies on a healthy and stable planet, something which we currently do not have. Though I do not expect everyone to dedicate all their time to grassroots climate activism, it is also not a “special interest,” like painting or astrology. Unlike those hobbies, we climate activists wish we could quit. More than anything in the world, I wish I didn’t have to fight for a livable future, that I could breathe without the constant weight of a burning world on my back. But I can’t, in large part because so many people see protecting the environment as something that some do and others don’t. “Oh, it’s so cool that you care about the planet, that’s just not my thing …”
I don’t say this to complain, but because I think this characterization of environmentalism is a serious obstacle to bringing about a more just and sustainable world. The success of any social justice movement relies on integrating a respect for rights into every institution. I think we can all agree that fighting racism, sexism, or homophobia must be a collective effort, not just a few people with a “special interest” in protecting human rights; environmental justice is no different.
Certainly, one large problem is the part of the population that refuses to recognize the reality of climate change and/or simply believes that the devastation of the world is a worthy price for the enrichment of a few wealthy men. However, the problem I am referring to lies within a much larger demographic: people who recognise the threat of climate change but still see it as simply one of many topics for discussion, something they can spectate from afar. This inaction is at the heart of this crisis: unjust institutions survive, thrive even, on our complacency.
To better explain what I mean, here are a few examples of how this trivialization of environmental empathy materializes in my daily life.
Most common are the well-meaning comments thanking me for advocating for the planet: “you give me hope,” and “someone’s got to do it.” I feel like people (especially adults) often see youth engagement as an excuse to disengage, as if they can justify going about their normal lives because someone else is fixing the problem. In these situations, I smile and thank them for their support, but all I want to say is that I don’t want to give them hope, or be the “someone” that’s got to do it. I’ve been that person my entire teenage life, and I am tired of pats on the back. Join us instead.
Another frequent occurrence is people treating me like the ultimate authority on sustainability, apologizing to me for their unsustainable practices as if they aren’t hurting the planet that we all share. I don’t believe in judging people for their lifestyle choices—perfect sustainability is an unreachable bar that scares people away from acting to lessen their footprint—but don’t look at me to excuse your actions. My values are not going to change the effects of your decisions, and until people hold themselves accountable rather than deflecting their guilt onto others, meaningful change is not going to happen.
“So what do you want from me?” I hear you saying. Well, I’m so glad you asked, because there are many ways to be a better ally to the planet and climate activists without dedicating your entire existence to the cause.
As important as it is to have people in all fields dedicating their careers to protecting our only home, climate activist and podcast host Clover Hogan puts it best: “We don’t need a hundred perfect activists, but millions of imperfect ones.” Climate activism cannot be merely a hobby undertaken by some, because in order to ensure that we have a future at all, the way we live must change drastically. This means each of us has to realize our agency within this seemingly insurmountable crisis and step up to do our part. Just as you don’t need to be on the frontlines of the women’s rights movement to not be a misogynist, you don’t need to have fake oil poured on your head to show you care about the rights of our planet and the people on it (but it is pretty fun).
Instead, try to recognize the places where you are choosing a more unsustainable option just because it is easier, and then hold yourself accountable. Research shows that many of the practices that people think contribute the most to their environmental impact (like recycling) are actually far outweighed by the practices they barely think twice about (like flying). Take this article as a sign to learn about your impact and make a change for the planet, and you will soon realize that sustainability is not a restriction on your lifestyle at all; it’s a kind of liberation. Sustainability is about finding joy in activities that are not exploitative of the planet and its inhabitants, it’s about cultivating genuineness and connection in a world that values brutal efficiency and mass-consumption. This means taking the time to educate yourself on the intersectionalities of environmental justice: read books, listen to podcasts, watch documentaries, and have discussions that force you to rethink your way of life (find my recs at the bottom of this article). But also, go out in nature, engage in activities that allow you to slow down and appreciate the small joys of life. There is no greater teacher about the value of the Earth than the very experiences she makes possible.
These are all individual manifestations of a broader need to integrate recognition of the planet’s rights into every part of our lives, a necessary remedy to the complacency that is stalling climate progress. Climate activism is not a hobby–not just because the planet needs us, but because we need the planet to an even greater extent. I am not writing this as a rebuke to all the well-meaning people who have offered their passive support over the years, but rather as an invitation to those same people to reject passivity. We simply cannot afford to live without conviction in a destructive status quo, and if the recent disappointments out of COP30 are any indication, this problem is not going to be solved unless all of us fight for radical change like our lives depend on it (because they do). It is time we stop seeing sustainability as some kind of exotic personal choice and accept both the burden and the honor of our collective responsibility to create a better world.
My Climate Media Recommendations
Books
- Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility
- Under the Sky We Make: How To Be Human in a Warming World
- All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis
- No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies: A Lyric Essay
- This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate
- What If We Get It Right? Visions of a Climate Future
- Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care
Films/Documentaries/Podcasts
Other Interesting Media
- https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/11/oceania-pacific-climate-change-stories/620570/
- https://emmlab.info/Resources_page/Data%20Center%20Fights_digital.pdf
- https://business.columbia.edu/insights/eric-johnson-climate-crisis-knowledge-gap
- https://www.npr.org/2025/11/19/nx-s1-5593087/climate-tipping-points-cop30-brazil-coral-glaciers-carbon
Cover Image: Drenched in fake oil at a demonstration. Photo Source: Emma Weibel
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Emma,
When I take a political survey requesting a ranking of my political concerns, I always select climate change as the most important, because none of the other issues will matter if we don’t check the devastation. I understand your annoyance with adults who are relieved young people are engaging with this issue in their place. A million less than perfect activists is insightful, except I would change it to a billion. Great article!