The Future of Climate Activism

Across the world, 80-89% of people want their governments to “do more” about climate change. In the US, the number is lower, but not by much. Various studies have found that between 66-74% of Americans support government intervention. Despite that, the Trump administration has taken a u-turn on climate action — leaving the Paris Agreement, cutting programs and funding, deleting climate data, and rescinding rules that reduced emissions — pledging to “drill, baby drill.”

Protests denouncing the administration’s actions have gained traction, but the deluge of executive orders, DOGE layoffs, and funding cuts has meant that climate action is just one issue in a laundry list of issues that includes preserving democracy, voting rights, freedom of speech, and others. At the same time, 41 anti-protest bills in 22 states have been introduced in the past three months, proposing harsher prison sentences and bigger fines for activists.

CCNow spoke with American University sociologist Dr. Dana Fisher, Sunrise Movement national spokesperson John Paul Mejia, and Drilled executive editor Amy Westervelt. Theresa Riley, Covering Climate Now’s audience editor, moderated.