A study conducted in five European countries has identified three profiles of climate activists and analyzed the factors that can lead to environmental engagement. The Erasmus+ project investigated the motivations and strategies of activism, revealing the importance of a “radical” dialogue in addressing the climate crisis.
Curiosity, family background, and a sense of powerlessness in the face of the climate crisis are the three main factors that drive people to become environmental activists, according to a recent qualitative study conducted as part of the European project ELCRA (Environmental Literacy in Higher Education Context for Preventing Radicalization in Climate Activism).
The research, coordinated by the University of Siena and carried out in collaboration with the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain), the Jagiellonian University of Kraków (Poland), Klaipėda University (Lithuania), and the University of Coimbra (Portugal) analyzed the motivations and methods of engagement of environmental activists through semi-structured interviews and focus groups.
“The study explored the phenomenon of youth participation in movements for environmental sustainability and the fight against climate change,” explains Professor Claudio Melacarne of the University of Siena, who led the research. “The goal was twofold: on the one hand, to understand the motivations and methods of engagement of activists, and on the other, to investigate the factors that can lead to the radicalization of certain individuals and groups.”
The research involved 49 participants, evenly divided between activists and university community members (students and faculty), and 52 people who participated in nine focus groups. The thematic analysis of the data identified three main profiles of environmental activists.
The “teacher activists” conceive their climate engagement as an educational process, focusing primarily on informing and raising public awareness. They often have experience in scientific research and believe that increased awareness can mobilize society toward change. “I prefer activism based on research, applying empirical data to direct actions,” says an American activist interviewed in the study.
The “critic activists” focus mainly on critique and denunciation, sometimes targeting power structures. This group consists of individuals who do not just propose solutions or raise awareness but strongly emphasize exposing socio-economic injustices related to environmental issues. For them, the fight for the climate is also a struggle against economic and social inequalities.
Finally, the “avant-garde activists” are at the forefront of direct-action strategies, introducing new forms of activism and mobilization. This group is characterized by an “experimental” approach, including artistic actions, performances, and other unconventional forms of activism, aiming to shake public consciousness and attract media attention.
“This variety of approaches does not represent fragmentation but rather a strategic richness that characterizes the movement as a whole,” the researchers emphasize. “The effectiveness of environmental activism depends on the ability to integrate and enhance different forms of action, creating synergies between dissemination, systemic critique, and direct mobilization.”
The study also identified the primary sources of information used by activists, including global organizations such as the United Nations and the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), scientific articles, university reports, websites, and influential figures in environmental activism. Trust in the leadership of a movement was found to be essential in ensuring growth, continuity of action, and effectiveness of activism.
In light of these findings, the researchers propose several strategies: rethinking the scientific language used to describe environmental activism actions and practices, supporting the creation of both physical and virtual spaces to develop a “radical” dialogue on climate change, and disseminating scientific research findings through both high-impact journals and mainstream media.
The results of this qualitative research and those of the previously published quantitative study will form the basis for the next phase of the ELCRA project, which involves developing a competency framework to prevent radicalization in environmental activism by improving university students’ environmental literacy. The project will create a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) covering environmental sustainability, climate change, radicalization theories, radicalization prevention techniques, and critical thinking.
The ELCRA project, funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program, will continue until October 2026. More information is available on the project website: www.elcraproject.eu.
To access the research:
https://docsend.com/view/ef869wuyrwxk6eg6
https://osf.io/preprints/osf/5t2b4_v1
Melacarne, C., Banchetti, C., Grzymała-Moszczyńska, J., Molinario, E., Prislei, L., Aragão, A., Borges, F., Fidalgo, S., Graça, M., Lopes, D., Paixão, M., Jakulyte, D., Straksiene, G., Molina Díez, M., Marcos Recio, J.C., Song, K., Flores Vivar, J.M., Varona Aramburu, D., de Castro Leal, L., Telesca, G., Rullo, M. (2025). WP2 – Research on issues environmental – related activism and radicalization. OS1.4 – Understand the phenomenon of youth participation in movements promoting environmental sustainability and the fight against climate change, and the factors that can contribute to prevent radicalization. (A2.4). Report from the Erasmus+ Project “ELCRA” https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/5t2b4_v1
Photo by Adrian Balasoiu on Unsplash