The recent article from the JustFutures project, titled “Climate Activist Groups’ Discourses on Science and Knowledge: Merging Rhetorical Strategies with Political Visions”, was published in the Environmental Communication journal on April 21, 2025. This study examines the discursive uses of science by three Portuguese youth-led climate groups — School Strike for Climate Portugal, Climáximo, and LIDERA. The study found that they have invoked science in three distinctive communicative moves: constructing science into a strategic ally; turning climate science into a political and ethical referee; and debating and pluralizing science. The authors argue that while climate groups can bolster mainstream science, some also foster critical perspectives and try to push science away from the dominant symbolic territory of “universalism” and “neutrality”.
Below, you can find the post-print version of this work, also available through this link.
The most recent article from the JustFutures project, titled “Young people’s conceptions of political agency in relation to climate change”, was published in Environmental Politics on April 15, 2025. This article examines how young people in Portugal understand and engage with political agency in the context of climate change. Through focus groups with 154 participants (aged 13 to 35), four main conceptions of political agency emerged: transformational collective agency, proto-political collective action, individualised action, and disempowered action. The authors suggest that young people’s political agency regarding climate change is shaped by both motivating and inhibiting factors, a desire for political influence and perceived power to bring about transformative change.
Below, you can find the open-access version of this work, also available through this link.
The recent article from the JustFutures project, titled “Prefigurative Politics and Cultures of Care in the Portuguese Youth Climate Strike Movement during School Occupations”, was published in the PARTECIPAZIONE E CONFLITTO on March 15, 2025. This study explores everyday practices and cultures of conviviality to understand how young activists sustain themselves during intense protest periods. The research was developed through an ethnographic study of school and university occupations in Lisbon by School Strike for Climate Portugal. The study sheds light on how cultures of care and prefigurative politics (practicing the future they want) shape the movement and foster hopeful futures.
Below, you can find the open-access version of this work, also available through this link.
The most recent article from the JustFutures project, titled “Relationships Between Activist Groups and Political Parties Shaping the Portuguese Climate Movement: Dynamics of Resistance and Collaboration”, was published in the social sciences on March 31, 2025. This study analyzes the interactions of young climate activists with political parties and how they shape the dynamics of the Student Climate Strike. The research was developed through an ethnographic strategy in two cities in the country. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the group´s challenges over time and the ways in which activist movements negotiate political affiliations and internal cohesion.
Below, you can find the open-access version of this work, also available through this link.
Today marks the conclusion of the JustFutures research project. Over these four years, we have worked to understand and promote debate on climate justice, always committed to engaging diverse youth voices and perspectives. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to the successful execution of the project, including institutions, local associations, and initiatives in Porto, Braga, Lisbon, and the Algarve—and especially the young people who dedicated their time to collaborate in various activities. Our thanks also extend to all who participated in the closing conference held on March 25th. During this event, we shared the key findings of the research conducted by our team, shedding light on fundamental aspects of young people’s relationship with climate change and aiming to inspire new directions for research and climate activism. The session also featured an enriching roundtable discussion where researchers and activists explored ways to advance debate and deepen research on the climate crisis.
The past years have offered hopeful perspectives of determination within the youth climate movement, marked by persistence and a diversification of forms of action. Numerous activist groups have adopted intersectional and systemic approaches, demanding profound and socially just changes. Globally, concern about climate change and awareness of its associated injustices seem to have grown. Yet, every day, we witness the erosion of fundamental rights and safeguards in multiple countries, the criminalization of climate activism, and significant political setbacks. Pessimism resurges in this sociopolitical landscape, overshadowed by large-scale wildfires and floods. Against this backdrop, we ask ourselves: “How can we continue building a future oriented toward social justice?”
The project will remain active through its website (justfutures.pt), the publication of new outputs, and the research project “Reimagining Political Agency: Youth Voice(s) in the Climate Change Debate”, funded by the FCT (2024.02918.BD, 2024-2026). This initiative is led by PhD candidate Daniela Ferreira da Silva, under the supervision of Professors Anabela Carvalho and Maria Fernandes-Jesus.
Date & Time: 25 March 2025, 15:00-16:30 WET (West European Time) Online participation | Event in English Zoom link:https://tinyurl.com/yppzkjfu
We are pleased to invite researchers, activists, and all those interested to the Closing Conference of the JustFutures project. This event marks the completion of our research journey, creating a space for critical reflection on its findings and new directions for climate justice research and action.
In a world where the impacts of climate change are deeply entangled with social and political injustices, young activists are not only navigating uncertain futures but also challenging dominant frameworks that shape how these crises are understood and addressed. This seminar will explore how youth—both within and beyond organized movements—are shaping plural, context-driven climate futures while questioning the limits of activism and institutional politics. Bringing together researchers and activists, the event will serve as both a moment of closure and a point of departure, opening space for emerging approaches to agency, political imaginaries, justice, and transformation.
Event Format:
Project Insights: The JustFutures team will present key research findings.
Roundtable Discussion: Researchers and activists will engage in a conversation on ways of knowing and acting on climate change amid growing polarization and unpredictability.
Speakers & Participants:
JustFutures Team Anabela Carvalho, University of Minho Carla Malafaia, University of Porto Daniela Ferreira da Silva, University of Minho Dora Rebelo, Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon Juliana Diógenes-Lima, University of Porto Maria Fernandes-Jesus, University of Sussex Mehmet Ali Üzelgün, Nova University of Lisbon Tânia R. Santos, University of Minho
Roundtable participants Anapaula Siqueira, Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon (researcher and activist) Hanna Morris, University of Toronto Jo Becker, University of Vigo (researcher and militant ethnographer) Mehmet Ali Üzelgün, Nova University of Lisbon (researcher and activist) Mourana Monteiro (activist) Susana Batel, Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon
Join us to reflect on our research and explore approaches that drive youth-led change.
The most recent article from the JustFutures project, titled “Imagined Climate Futures and Collective Action: An Analysis of Affect in Dystopias and Utopias by Young Climate Activists“, was published in the Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology on March 4, 2025. This study is part of the analysis of focus group discussions and examines the affective qualities of the utopias and dystopias developed by young climate activists in various cities across Portugal. The work challenges the literature that assumes hope as the only emotional disposition for engagement in climate activism, exploring the value of negative imagined futures as catalysts for action and change.
Below, you can find the open-access version of this work, also available through this link.
Between late 2024 and early 2025, the project developed two new resources, which can be found in the ClimAct-Hub section. This section showcases some of the materials created by the project with relevance for climate activism.
The brochure “Creating Action Dynamics: Developing Youth Political Agency and Building Fairer Climate Futures“ (here in Portuguese) was the result of two participatory workshops on political agency and climate change, held with young people from two Portuguese cities—Porto and Lisbon. The English version of the brochure was published on the website of the Shift-COST action, which supported its production (here).
In February 2025, the project published the Climate Activism Timeline–2015-2025, which aims to highlight demonstrations, protests, and other events related to environmental, climate, and sustainability issues. You can access it here.
Carla Malafaia and Maria Fernandes-Jesus published the chapter “Communication in Youth Climate Activism: Addressing Research Pitfalls and Centring Young People’s Voices,” in December 2024. The chapter appeared in the recently released book “Environmental Communication”, published by De Gruyter Mouton (“Handbooks of Communication Science” series).
Anabela Carvalho, the coordinator of the JustFutures project, co-edited the book together with Tarla Rai Peterson (University of Texas El Paso). This book is intended for scholars, students and professionals in communication, environmental policy, environmental sociology, and environmental studies.
The latest article published by the JustFutures project is entitled “Intersectionality in youth climate activism as educational practice: political, pragmatic, and pedagogical dimensions”, and was published in the journal Frontiers in Education on January 1, 2025. This work is part of Task 5 of the project (understanding on-the-ground experiences of collective action) and investigates the value of intersectionality practices developed by the School Strike for Climate in two Portuguese cities. The study reinforces the potential of intersectionality in political socialization and collective learning, challenging hegemonic educational practices.
Below, you can find the final version of this work. You can also access it via this link.
