Environmental Activism
Environmental Campaigner, Lobbyist, Grass Roots Organiser, Environmental Activist
The Sector
Environmental activism is the combined political force of people who take direct actions to protect the environment. There are many organisations that exist to educate about, promote and save the environment, including small grassroots community organizations and large international pressure groups. Organisations may focus on specific issues, target the full range of environmental problems, provide policy and scientific advice, implement environmental projects in their communities, lobby politicians, or take direct actions against those abusing the environment.
Sector Profile
Environmental activism dates back nearly 400 years, with the Bishnois of Rajasthan embracing death to defy the cutting of trees by the king's men. Although it was not a conscious ‘movement’, it showed a community concern for the upkeep of environment for the first time. Only after the Second World War, when spurred on by nuclear technologies, pesticide pollution, and overexploitation, did environmental activism emerge fully. In 1972, the UN Conference on the Human Environment united government representatives in discussion relating to the state of Earth. This conference led directly to the creation of government environment agencies and the UN Environment Program.
Issues and Trends
Environmental activism has moved far from its traditions of confrontational whistle-blowing. Modern activism works across cultural, political and disciplinary borders, campaigning in creative alliances on broad agendas. Raising global awareness about ecological problems and integrating the concept of sustainable development into international politics are the main victories of the movement.
However, many argue that environmental advocacy has been largely confined to damage control, with successful campaigns merely stalling destructive activities or political processes. Much less progress has been achieved in initiating positive changes, setting high standards in policy making, and shifting attitudes of individuals and society in general toward sustainability.
Nevertheless, the environmental movement is undergoing a transformation, moving from the initial focus on specific environmental problems and “no-saying” protests against destructive activities towards a broad environmental activism agenda and solution-oriented campaigns. Recognising links between environmental and social needs, activists no longer confine themselves to ringing alarm bells over problems, but seek ways of addressing underlying causes of environmental problems – unsustainable production and consumption, unjust corporate-driven economic development and disregard of human rights.
Climate change will be the issue on which the current generation of environmental activists will be judged. Unfavourable comparison to the dramatic global success of the ‘make poverty history’ campaign has led to far-reaching questions about the failure of climate change campaigning. New strategies are needed to reach people and therefore influence policy makers. This makes for a very exciting time for those involved in environmental activism.
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