The global climate movement is an intricate and dynamic network of actors united by a shared determination to combat climate change, a challenge that threatens the stability of ecosystems and the future of human society. As the movement evolves, it integrates a variety of organisational structures, from hierarchical NGOs to grassroots collectives, each contributing to the broader climate justice agenda.

This article explores the global climate movement, through a framework derived from the social movement literature, including its mobilising grievances, political opportunity, organisational dynamics, and goals, strategies and tactics of these actors in addressing the climate crisis.

Additionally, through a learning activity focused on the investigation of case study organisations, students will critically engage with the complexities of the movement, developing their analytical and communication skills while gaining a deeper understanding of the forces shaping global climate politics. This learning activity is inspired by a blog and discussion-based assessment task from my subject International Politics of Climate Change at La Trobe University.

Social movements have long been a subject of academic interest, with scholars examining their structures, strategies, and impacts on societal change. Charles Tilly (1978) defines social movements as collective challenges to authorities or elites, driven by grievances that mobilise groups into collective action. They are collective challenges by people with common purposes and solidarity in sustained interaction over time with prevailing systems of authority through known repertoires of protest and innovations of practice (Snow and Soule 2010; Tarrow 1994; Tilly 2004). 

Transnational social movements provide social infrastructures for movement coordination, cultivate constituencies for intergovernmental organisations, mobilise and redistribute resources to movement members, foster transnational identities around the movement, and stimulate coordinated attempts to redress problems that transcend state boundaries (Kriesberg 1997). 

The global climate movement, as a prominent and expansive social movement, is firmly situated within the broader social movement family tree. Its large, truly global scale is a key factor in its significant political impact within the wider ecosystem of international climate politics.

The academic literature on social movements is vast, but a useful summary by Remy Cross and David Snow (2012) in the Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Sociology identifies several core elements that characterise social movements. These include:

• Mobilising grievances, which reflect the shared concerns that drive collective action.
• Contextual conditions, which encompass the political, economic, and social environment in which movements operate.
• Movement dynamics, describing how participants organise and collaborate with each other.
• Biographic availability of participants, highlighting the varied demographic and resource-based factors that shape participation.
• Organising dynamics, which refer to the structural and tactical aspects that influence how movements coordinate and mobilise.

These elements are crucial for understanding the climate movement’s ability to galvanise support and influence international climate policies, and I use these as a framework for the learning activity below.

The specific contextual conditions that are required for the occurrence of social movements in the times and places in which they emerge.  This relates to the opening of opportunity for political action—political opportunity—to redress mobilising grievances, the availability of resources to conduct those actions, accessibility of the public sphere as a “free space” for action, and relationship to other social movements (Kitschelt 1986; Tarrow 1994).

Political opportunity theory hails from a political sociology perspective and explores the impact of political context as a key variable which opens or closes the window of opportunity for social movement action.  Openness of the prevailing political system to organised dissent is a key variable here (Tilly 1978) and can be influenced by factors such as institutional structures, political cleavages and strategic alliances among political factions (Kitschelt 1986; McAdam et al 1996; Tarrow 1994). 

Variations of political opportunity studies point to both country-specific social movement mobilisation patterns (Kriesi et al 1992) and the salience of acro-political forces at the global level in opening opportunities for political action (Smith and Wiest 2012). 

The political and economic context within which the climate movement operates is shaped by a complex interplay of global governance challenges, entrenched neoliberal economic systems, and the contested nature of climate policy. Transnationally, the movement engages with frameworks such as the Paris Agreement while critiquing their inadequacies in addressing the scale of the crisis (Fremstad and Paul 2022). National contexts, meanwhile, reveal significant variation, with progressive policies emerging in some states juxtaposed against resistance in others, driven by fossil fuel lobbies and populist scepticism (Newell and Paterson 2020).

Despite these barriers, the climate movement’s ability to leverage public discontent and increasing climate awareness has positioned it as a transformative force in global politics.

Resource Mobilisation Theory evolved in the 1960s in response to explosion of anti-hegemonic politics leading up to the worldwide upheavals of 1968. This interrogated social movements from an organisational analysis perspective and examines the ways in which social movements obtain and deploy finances, people and information, among other available resources, in their political activities (Cress and Snow 1996; McCarthy and Zald 1977).  This perspective is instructive in identifying the variables that determine movement dynamics, or, to put it another way, the ability to procure and deploy available resources to perpetuate itself and achieve its political objectives (Jenkins 1983).

Organisationally, the climate movement spans both professionalised organisations such as Greenpeace and participatory collectives like Extinction Rebellion. Professional organisations tend to adopt hierarchical structures to facilitate resource management and campaign coordination, whereas participatory groups favour horizontal and decentralised approaches that emphasise grassroots mobilisation (Schlosberg 2014). XR’s model, for example, relies on autonomous local groups operating within a broader framework of shared principles, promoting inclusivity while avoiding top-down control (Bell 2021). This dichotomy between professional and participatory approaches reflects broader tensions in social movement theory regarding efficiency versus inclusivity.

Inspired by the constructivist turn in the social sciences, New Social Movement Theory emphasises the reformist rather than revolutionary quality of social movements that have developed in post-industrial developed countries since the 1960s as class conflict became muted by generally rising prosperity and the welfare state (Touraine 1985; Habermas 1981).  Scholars in this tradition are interested in the impact of ideology, identity, emotional engagement, and framing in social movement activities and how social movement participants interpret and perceive their political context (Melucci 1985).  New social movement analysis helps to define the character of movement participation, in terms of who participates, how they participate, and why (Snow and Soule 2010).

Biographical availability often plays a significant role in who can participate actively in the climate movement, with youth, retirees, and individuals in flexible employment disproportionately represented (McAdam 1986). The Fridays for Future movement, led by school-aged activists, highlights how specific life stages enable individuals to commit to sustained activism. However, the financial and social constraints faced by marginalised groups can limit their participation, raising questions about the inclusivity of the movement (Bagchi et al 2024).

Collective identity plays a crucial role in fostering solidarity within the movement. Climate activism often embodies emotional resonances, including grief for ecological loss, anger at institutional inaction, and hope for transformative change (Melucci 1996). These emotions are not merely peripheral; they serve to galvanise action, strengthen bonds between participants, and shape the movement’s narrative. Performative acts such as Extinction Rebellion’s “die-ins” or the symbolic planting of trees by community groups are illustrative of how emotional expression is intertwined with political praxis (Plate 2024).

These perspectives lead us to the most important questions of all, relating to the political consequences and outcomes of social movements (Snow and Soule 2010).  It is difficult to measure “success” in terms of social movement efficacy, as social change is a long-term inter-generational project where each social movement builds on the possibilities opened by those that came before it.  The political impact of a social movement is more usefully conceptualised in terms of consequences and outcomes of the strategies and tactics the movement employs in relation to the structures of power in which it  is mobilised against (McBay 2011).

The goals, strategies, and tactics of climate actors are multifaceted and context-dependent. Key goals include pressuring governments to adopt ambitious climate policies, transitioning to renewable energy systems, and embedding climate justice principles within global governance frameworks (Plate 2024). Strategies often combine direct action with policy advocacy, while tactics range from nonviolent protests to strategic litigation against polluters. The alignment between these approaches and the movement’s goals underscores its adaptability, though challenges persist in balancing radical and reformist elements.

Evaluating success within the climate movement requires a nuanced understanding of both immediate and long-term objectives. While success may involve tangible outcomes such as legislative changes or emissions reductions, it also encompasses less measurable achievements, including shifting public discourse and normalising climate activism (O’Brien 2017). The viability of strategies and tactics is heavily influenced by political and social contexts; for instance, civil disobedience may yield positive outcomes in democratic states but provoke repression in authoritarian regimes (Sika 2024).

This learning activity invites students to engage critically with the global climate movement by exploring the structures, strategies, and impacts of its diverse organisations and collectives. Through a combination of research, analysis, collaboration, and reflection, students will select a case study organisation or collective to investigate its role in addressing climate-related grievances, its operational dynamics, and its contribution to the broader climate justice agenda.

By producing a briefing paper, participating in group discussions, and writing a critical evaluation, students will develop a deeper understanding of the complexities of social movements and enhance their analytical and communication skills in the context of global climate politics.

By completing this activity, students should learn the following:

• Develop critical analysis skills by examining social movement dynamics.
• Enhance understanding of organisational structures, strategies, and tactics in climate activism.
• Foster collaboration and communication skills through group discussions and presentations.
• Strengthen research and academic writing proficiency by engaging with case studies and literature.

Tasks in Part I are to be completed by students individually.

Climate movement brainstorm: Brainstorm a list of organisations and collectives active in the global climate movement. Use the following categories:

• Local (e.g., community-based initiatives).
• National (e.g., country-level campaigns or organisations).
• International (e.g., transnational alliances or NGOs).

Compile a Spreadsheet: Organise your findings into a spreadsheet with columns for Local, National, and International actors. Include a brief description of each organisation’s focus and activities.

Choose a case study: Choose one organisation or collective from your compiled list as your case study. Write a short paragraph outlining your reasons for selecting this specific organisation, focusing on its significance, relevance, or unique characteristics.

Create a 1-Minute Video: Record a short video where you explain the reasons for your choice of case study. Highlight its importance within the global climate movement and your interest in exploring it further.

Students should complete tasks in Part III in class, in groups of 3-4.

Case study presentation: Work in groups of 3–4 students. Each member presents their case study findings to the group in a 5–minute presentation. Use visual aids where possible (e.g., slides, infographics).

Group discussion and feedback: After each presentation, group members discuss and provide feedback. Discussions and feedback should focus on the following evaluative questions:

• Are the goals of the case study organisation an appropriate response to its mobilising grievances?
• How is “success” defined and assessed for your case study?
• Do the strategies and tactics align with your case study’s goals?
• Are the goals, strategies, and tactics viable within their political context?
• What is your case study’s impact on the wider climate movement?

Students should take notes on key points from the group’s feedback on their presentations.

Tasks in Part IV should be completed by students individually.

Critical evaluation report: Write a 1,000-word report evaluating the effectiveness of your chosen organisation or collective. Incorporate feedback from your group discussions and engage with relevant academic literature to support your analysis. Address the following evaluative questions, as discussed in Part III:

• Are the goals of the case study organisation an appropriate response to its mobilising grievances?
• How is “success” defined and assessed for your case study?
• Do the strategies and tactics align with your case study’s goals?
• Are the goals, strategies, and tactics viable within their political context?
• What is your case study’s impact on the wider climate movement?

Guidelines: Please submit your report with citations from the academic literature, a bibliography in APA 7th format, and observations from your group discussion (see Part III).

This activity integrates research, analysis, and collaboration, providing a comprehensive learning experience in studying the global climate movement. Across all of the outputs for Parts I-IV, student submissions should display the following:

• Depth of analysis: Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the case study’s dynamics, supported by evidence and academic references.
• Critical engagement: Critically evaluates the organisation’s effectiveness, incorporating diverse perspectives and feedback.
• Clarity and structure: Presents ideas coherently with clear organisation and logical flow.
• Academic rigour: Engages with relevant literature and adheres to citation standards.
• Collaboration and communication: Active participation in group discussions and quality of presentation delivery.

The global climate movement represents a transformative force in the fight against climate change, shaped by an array of actors whose actions span local, national, and international levels. Their collective efforts reflect the urgency of the climate crisis and the varied strategies required to address it.

From professional organisations to grassroots collectives, the diversity of approaches within the movement is essential to its strength and adaptability. As the movement faces political and economic challenges, its ability to unite diverse voices and mobilise public support continues to position it as a central actor in global climate governance.

The accompanying learning activity offers students the opportunity to critically explore the roles of these actors, deepening their understanding of the complexities inherent in social movements and their contribution to a sustainable and equitable future. By analysing case study organisations and reflecting on their strategies, students will gain valuable insights into the practical realities and potential impacts of climate activism.

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