Survey: The Youth Climate Summit is full of young activists trained in the anti-Trump movement

A quarter of young U.S. climate activists reported that their first experience protesting was as part of one of the large marches protesting the Trump administration and its policies, according to surveys collected from participants in the global “Fridays for the Future” strikes around the world — including 220 students living in the U.S. 44% say they participated in the “March for Our Lives” protest against gun violence and more than 40% reported attending one (or both) of the Women’s Marches. 

Further, 70% reported that they had contacted an elected official in the past year and 58% had attended a public, town or school meeting. U.S. youth climate activists were also more engaged in confrontational tactics, with 53% saying they’ve been involved in some form of direct action, which involves breaking the law or even violence. U.S. participants were also more engaged in consumer activism: 76% said they had boycotted or deliberately bought a certain product for political, ethical or environmental reasons.