Climate activism – is there any point to it?

Most protests fail to trigger substantial change in policy. What makes the recent wave in climate activism, which many young people have passionately participated in, any different? Mattias Nilsson, a MSc Economics Graduate from University College London, explains why the current climate change movement has captured the interest of the general public, businesses and politicians… Read more »

Oil industry sponsorship of cultural institutions: why young people are protesting

Protests at the National Portraits Gallery, the abandonment of a seat-subsidy for the Royal Shakespeare Company: the rejection of oil industry sponsorship on ethical grounds, largely driven by campaigns by young people, raises questions about what sources of philanthropy are unacceptable. IF Junior Researcher Melissa Bui – our lead in this ongoing Climate Change blog… Read more »

We Want to Fight Climate Change With You, Not Against You

Young climate activists have been accused of antagonising older generations, shifting the blame onto them rather than taking their own responsibility seriously. Charlotte Unruh, an Ambassador for the Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations, argues that such accusations are based on a misunderstanding of young people’s motivation and intentions

The Future Generations Bill: a new landmark in intergenerational justice

On Monday 21 October, Green Party peer Baroness Jenny Jones introduced Lord Bird’s Future Generations Bill in the House of Lords. With the bill seeking to revolutionise policy thinking by encouraging policy makers to incorporate the implications for future generations as well as current ones, IF placement Cameron Leitch explores what impact this bill could have… Read more »

Would new rules requiring voter ID disenfranchise young people?

The recent Queen’s Speech contained the announcement that the government plans to make voter ID compulsory at all future elections, but campaigners have warned that this could disenfranchise certain minority groups, including younger voters. David Kingman examines whether we should be worried about the government’s plans