(Not So) Significant Life Experiences: Diverse Pathways to Environmentalism for Generation Z

• In Event: Global Perspectives on Environmental Justice: The Role of Identities and Experiences

Abstract

Previous research has suggested that time in nature and the influences of adults are among the significant life experiences (SLEs) that most affected adult environmentalists. There is limited research, however, on younger environmentalists and the SLEs that influenced them to identify as environmentalists. In our analysis of interviews with nine adolescents from Generation Z who participated in environmental programs or attended charter schools with an environmental focus across North Carolina and scored high on a measure of nature relatedness, we found six themes: influences, connections, aspirations, emotions, barriers, and politics. Our analysis suggests a mosaic of inspirations and motivations for environmentalism and indicates that the typical SLEs considered as precursors for fostering environmentalism are perhaps too limited in scope.

Authors

• Laura Todd

• Samantha Friedman, University of Cambridge

• Scott Morrison, Elon University