Youth representations of environmental protest

A necessary condition for a functioning democracy is the participation of its citizens, including youth. This particularly true political in environmental decisions, because these decisions can have intergenerational consequences. In this article we examine young people’s beliefs about one form participation—protest—in context communities affected by fracking and associated anti-fracking protest, discuss implications representations education. Drawing on focus groups with 121 people (aged 15–19) five schools colleges near sites which experienced protest England Northern Ireland, find well-informed avenues formal non-formal against background disillusionment processes varying levels support protest. We as disruptive, divisive, extreme, less desirable than other forms ineffective bringing change but effective awareness-raising. These are challenging, not least way interpreted critical to think act world. must be challenged through education order safeguard UN Convention Rights Child ensure that spirit Article 11 UK Human Act protected.