Youth in Focus: Youth Activism’s Role in Pushing Climate Action Forward

Youth climate leaders Xiye Bastida, Disha Ravi, and Ayisha Siddiqa discuss environmental justice, the risks of organizing, fossil fuel industry influence, and the legal and financial support young activists need to advance climate action.

Though gridlock has defined much of the politics and governance of climate change, over the past several years, the global youth climate movement has emerged as a force for ramping up the speed and urgency of climate action and law.

This nascent yet ambitious movement has been able to clarify the moral urgency of swift climate action like never before. And they have pushed the boundaries of political and legal discourse and action on climate change and have leveraged their activism to pressure governments and corporations on their climate records.

This CLX webinar focuses on the key role of youth climate activism in efforts — including litigation — to tackle climate change, and it features three youth climate leaders: Xiye Bastida, Disha Ravi, and Ayisha Siddiqa.

The conversation brings youth organizers’ perspectives to questions that remain central to climate advocacy: How can movements turn urgency into pressure on decision-makers? What role can legal action play alongside organizing? And how can people across generations work together to pursue ambitious climate action?

Highlights

What is this webinar about?

This CLX webinar examines the role of youth activism in advancing climate action and its relationship to climate litigation. The speakers discuss how young people frame the crisis, organize across different contexts, and seek meaningful support from lawyers and older generations.

How can youth activism put pressure on governments and corporations?

The webinar’s premise is that youth movements have drawn attention to governments’ and corporations’ climate records and demanded more urgent action. It invites viewers to consider how organizing and public advocacy can shape the expectations placed on decision-makers.

What role can lawyers and litigation play in youth climate activism?

The speakers identify several needs: investigating and challenging corporate claims, holding governments and companies accountable, defending activists, and helping young organizers understand agreements they are asked to sign.

What do the speakers mean by meaningful intergenerational collaboration?

They call for young people to be included in substantive decisions, rather than invited only to make public appearances. They also identify practical forms of support, including funding, legal assistance, and protection for organizers facing threats or arrest.

Who is this webinar useful for?

The conversation is useful for youth organizers, climate and human rights lawyers, educators, researchers, and students examining how activism and legal action can work together. It gives legal advocates concrete questions to consider when supporting youth-led movements. It can also help organizations consider how to engage youth leadership in broader climate efforts.

Can I cite or reference this resource in my own work?

Yes. CLX resources are open-access and may be cited with attribution. If you plan to reproduce substantial portions of the text or figures, please reach out to our team first.

Is this resource peer-reviewed?

Reports and working papers go through internal review by CLX researchers and, where noted, external subject-matter experts. Educational materials and commentary are reviewed for accuracy but are not formally peer-reviewed academic publications.

How current is the legal analysis in this resource?

Climate litigation moves quickly, and case law referenced here reflects the state of play at the time of publication. Where a resource is part of an ongoing series or learning kit, later installments may reflect more recent developments.

Can I use this material for teaching or training?

Absolutely — many of our resources, including learning kits and video series, are designed for classroom and clinic use. Non-commercial educational use is encouraged; contact us for permissions on commercial training programs.