White Audacity and Student Climate Justice Activism

There has been burgeoning interest in youth climate justice activism across the world, particularly in the Global North. This work has drawn attention to the collective hope, joy and kindness that form and move in and through youth climate justice activist networks and communities. This chapter, written by two graduated School Strike 4 Climate students and an education researcher, unpacks and interrogates the intersectional dynamics and rage at injustices that also circulate within and through youth climate justice organizing spaces. This chapter narrates and analytically reflects on the operations of whiteness in youth climate justice organizing spaces within the metropolitan city of Sydney, Australia. The concept of ‘white audacity’ is elaborated: as a mode of presumption to power contoured by whiteness that has negatively impacted on youth-led climate organizing. The chapter also draws attention to compelling moments where white audacity has been disrupted, exposed and challenged, and calls for further reflection on the organizing model of youth-led climate justice networks. The purpose of this chapter is to learn from moments of failed solidarity in order to collectively nurture strong intersectional climate justice work.