Interview with Diana, a youth climate organizer in her 20’s in Virginia.

What brought you into climate work and the climate movement?

I came to college during the pandemic and was looking for ways to get involved on campus and meet new people. I joined a reading group focused on climate change because I like reading and the social aspect, and did think that the environment was important (although I hadn’t been in any environmental groups before that). From there, the social network and friends I made pulled me further into environmental activism.

What do you think is the best reason to support taking action to combat climate change? (e.g. clean air, future generations?)

Without combatting climate change, we’ll see mass death and suffering on a scale beyond anything that’s happened in human history. I believe that if I care about anything, I need to care about the climate as well, because climate change will heavily impact every aspect of human existence.

How would you describe your approach to organizing and mobilizing young people and students on climate?

I’m not really sure. I just like to make sure that students are thinking about these things, but also, I don’t really think that I have the energy or passion to put together large-scale movements. Mostly I want to help facilitate students do the environmental things they already want to do, because students are more likely to get involved in there’s an existing social network and club that’s willing to help them. Mostly I focus on education about different things and then people do what they want with that information.

How has organizing changed for you during the pandemic, and have you noticed any similar changes with the activists you work with?

I didn’t really organize before the pandemic, so I don’t know.

Does the federal government’s response to the COVID pandemic give you any more or less confidence in their ability to address climate change? 

I think that the government showed that it could do things about climate change, but also, compared to the backlash, I don’t know if it could make the large-scale, long-term changes needed.

How about the public’s response, and young peoples’ handling of it? 

            I was a bit pessimistic, and I think I still am. Most people got tired to changing their daily schedule and reverted back to what they had been doing, despite knowing the science. There was also some strong backlash, like I mentioned above, which makes me thing that long-term changes will be incredibly difficult. Some people did band together to help, but I don’t know if it was substantially more than normal response sizes; Mutual aid organizations popped up, but either they were short-term, or had existed beforehand.

How do you feel about the Biden-Harris Administration’s approach to climate action, and any actions they’ve taken thus far?

I was really surprised by their climate bill and thing that it’s probably the singular most impactful climate legislation in recent history. Of course, they might be able to do more, but I’m not President for a reason, and I’m pretty happy with what they’ve done so far (which I didn’t think any president could do).

How about Congress?

I think it depends on the congressperson. Some are good, some are bad. They may be able to get stuff through, but not like the President (similar to why the Green New Deal will never pass but Biden’s bill did).

Do you personally believe you have the ability to affect change on the issues that you most care about?

I do think that I can make change, just not on a large scale. I’ve already seen the changes that have come about, and I know that [student org] wouldn’t have survived if I hadn’t become President. However, I’m not going to get a bill passed or something strong like that, either due to lack of ability or lack of motivation (but I’m not sure there’s a difference). I think that I can make the kind of individual, small-scale, community changes, through clubs and my job and just my general social life, that can grow into something larger, but not without lots of outside help.

Have the experiences in the past year given you any more or less confidence in this?

I don’t think my confidence level has changed.

What role do you think the youth climate movement should play moving forward, and how confident are you in its ability to have a significant impact?

I think the youth need to focus more on taking the action that they can, through voting, direct action, and potentially less peaceful protests. However, based on my experiences with the League of Women Voters and general politically minded organizations, I don’t think that young people are willing to vote on a large scale (for the time being) or to take action that may have more consequences. From what I’ve seen, most young activists focus on the modern peaceful protest model (which I don’t think works very well).

Anything else you would like to share?

I think this all makes me seem very pessimistic, but I do believe in the good that people have done, are doing, and will do. However, I think that there’s a big disconnect between the individual good on a community scale that I see, and the needed large scale, institutional change and the necessary things to inspire that change.