Author: Admin

Daniela Ferreira da Silva presents at the 13th Portuguese Congress of Sociology at the University of the Azores

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Daniela Ferreira da Silva, in collaboration with Anabela Carvalho and Maria Fernandes-Jesus, presented her research at the 13th Portuguese Congress of Sociology, under the theme “Democracies Under Pressure: Risks and Uncertainties,” held at the University of the Azores from July 8 to 11, 2025.

The presentation, titled “Collaborative Workshops on Political Agency: How Can We Amplify Young People’s Voices in the Climate Change Debate?” was part of a parallel session on “Adaptation, Governance, and Development Models,” organized by the Environment and Society section.

The communication aimed to share the results of two collaborative workshops held in Porto and Lisbon between July and September 2024. These workshops were designed to encourage young people to think about ways to have a stronger voice in public and political discussions around climate change. The workshops highlighted the importance of creating safe, informal spaces where youth can share common experiences and diverse ideological perspectives. They also underscored the need to include young voices in climate discussions and demonstrated the transformative potential of collaborative action settings (read more here).

Chapter published: “Youth activism and the call for generational responsibility in climate politics” in the book “Routledge Handbook of Climate Crisis Communication”

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The latest chapter of the JustFutures project, entitled “Youth activism and the call for generational responsibility in climate politics”, was published in the “Routledge Handbook of Climate Crisis Communication” in May 2025.

The chapter provides an overview of literature examining how  youth-led climate action may have expanded the boundaries of discourse within climate  politics. Our analysis underscores one of the most relevant contributions of youth  activism: the moral imperative of generational responsibility, which has catalysed the  politicization of the present moment. Continuously excluded from political processes,  youth demand broader societal participation to formulate solutions and alternatives,  indirectly proposing ways to reconfiguring climate politics as more democratic and  pluralistic.

The chapter is currently under closed access and available only via institutional access.

Daniela Ferreira da Silva leads Workshop on “Environmental Action” in Porto

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Based on the Eco-Schools program with the theme “Climate Action, Outdoor Spaces, Biodiversity: Preserve and Regenerate,” PhD student Daniela Ferreira da Silva led the “Environmental Action” workshop at EB 2,3 Pêro Vaz de Caminha School (Porto) with class 9A and the Environmental Representatives from all 9th-grade classes on May 28, 2025.

The main goal of the workshop was to foster critical thinking around the political dimensions of climate change. Using photovoice methodology, mind mapping, and action strategy development, students explored ways to mitigate key environmental issues identified in their community: heavy traffic, excessive use of private cars, air pollution, and overcrowded bus stops.

Special thanks go to Professor Celeste Costa for her support in organizing and energizing the activity.

Daniela Ferreira da Silva presents at the project conference “Real Needs and Exploratory Approaches for Service-Learning”

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At the invitation of NUCLIO – the Interactive Astronomy and Education Innovation Center, Daniela Ferreira da Silva gave a presentation at the final conference of the EARN project – Exploratory Approaches and Real Needs in Service-Learning. The presentation was titled “Co-creating spaces of agency: climate activism and participatory research as learning spaces to political action”. It was developed in collaboration with her supervisory team – Anabela Carvalho and Maria Fernandes-Jesus. The final conference took place on May 15 at the Frei Gonçalo de Azevedo School in Cascais.

This work was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through the following grants: the research project JUSTFUTURES – Climate Futures and Just Transformations: Young People’s Narratives and Political Imaginaries [PTDC/COM-OUT/7669/2020]; the research project Reimagining Political Agency: The Voice(s) of Young People in the Climate Change Debate [2024.02918.BD]; and the Centre for Research in Anthropology [UID/04038].

Published article: “Climate Activist Groups’ Discourses on Science and Knowledge: Merging Rhetorical Strategies with Political Visions”

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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 published version of this work, also available through this link.

Climate Activist Groups Discourses on Science and Knowledge Merging Rhetorical Strategies with Political VisionsDownload

Published article: “Young people’s conceptions of political agency in relation to climate change”

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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.

Rebelo et al. – Young people’s conceptions of political agency in relation to climate changeDownload

Published article: “Prefigurative Politics and Cultures of Care in the Portuguese Youth Climate Strike Movement during School Occupations”

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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.

Rebelo et al. – 2025 – Prefigurative Politics and Cultures of Care in the Portuguese Youth Climate Strike Movement during SDownload

Published article: “Relationships Between Activist Groups and Political Parties Shaping the Portuguese Climate Movement: Dynamics of Resistance and Collaboration”

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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.

Diógenes-Lima et al. – 2025 – Relationships Between Activist Groups and Political Parties Shaping the Portuguese Climate MovementDownload

A final message from the team

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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.

The JustFutures team 

📢 Closing Conference: “Building Just Futures: Youth Climate Activism in a Time of Plurality, Complexity, and Uncertainty”

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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.

Save the date & spread the word!