Grace Vegesana and fellow young climate activists initiated their movement in Sydney seven years ago, inspired by Greta Thunberg. The initial rally exceeded expectations, drawing 5,000 participants, which surged to 300,000 during the 2019 demonstrations, marking a peak in climate activism. However, following the peak attendance, interest dwindled among young Australians, especially due to the pandemic's impact, which forced the movement online and hindered leadership transitions. This decline has raised questions about the movement’s future and the challenges of sustaining youth involvement in climate action.
Grace Vegesana reflects on the initial excitement of climate strikes, stating how they unleashed a beast of public engagement, only to see the movement's momentum stall.
Despite the soaring attendance at rallies, subsequent national concerns about climate change among youth declined sharply, illustrating a disconnect between activism and sustained engagement.
The 2019 global climate strike saw 300,000 people participating across Australia, marking a peak of activism that captured widespread attention, yet did not lead to enduring change.
Vegesana pointed out that the pandemic's arrival forced youth climate activism online, disrupting momentum and creating challenges for transitioning leadership and organizing future events.
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