Applying a Leverage Points framework to youth organizing within the UNFCCC, in order of potential impact. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.433.t4
| Leverage Point . | Specific Leverage Point for Youth . | Difficulty to Implement . | Description . |
|---|---|---|---|
| The power to transcend paradigms | Transcending mindsets of martyrdom and glorification of burnout | High | Perceptions of martyrdom serve to accelerate burnout among youth at COP conferences; increasing emphasis on self-sustenance and celebration may help increase effectiveness in the UNFCCC process; shifting perceptions of the UNFCCC process and its purpose |
| Paradigm thinking | Systemic, radical change | Moderate (currently in place, to an extent) | Emphasis on social justice and intersectionality; paradigms mentioned by some participants echo concepts of cognitive liberation, wherein social movements need to firmly believe in the ability of their cause to succeed if they are indeed to do so (McAdam, 1999; McAdam and Snow, 2009); fostering a greater sense of community, and a deeper sense of impending success |
| The rules of the system | UNFCCC rules | High | Identifying and targeting sources of disempowerment; efforts to increase physical access to negotiating spaces and ability to organize peaceful demonstrations |
| The goals of the system | Goals of youth participation in UNFCCC | Low | Youth participants may strategize on their participation goals within the UNFCCC: is the goal to affect the final outcome document? In that case, targeting lobbying and organizing would need to take place well in advance of the COPs themselves. Other goals of UNFCCC participation can include coalition-building with like-minded NGOs and global networking or media leveraging for local and domestic campaigns |
| The power to add, change, evolve, or self-organize system structure | Political windows of opportunity for youth organizing goals | Low | Utilizing the COP space as an opportunity for a policy goal that can advance climate goals outside the scope of the UNFCCC process |
| The structure of information flow and the power to self-organize system structure | Youth networks and coalition-building | Moderate | Building strategic alliances among different NGOs at COP – particularly within youth organizations |
| Leverage Point . | Specific Leverage Point for Youth . | Difficulty to Implement . | Description . |
|---|---|---|---|
| The power to transcend paradigms | Transcending mindsets of martyrdom and glorification of burnout | High | Perceptions of martyrdom serve to accelerate burnout among youth at COP conferences; increasing emphasis on self-sustenance and celebration may help increase effectiveness in the UNFCCC process; shifting perceptions of the UNFCCC process and its purpose |
| Paradigm thinking | Systemic, radical change | Moderate (currently in place, to an extent) | Emphasis on social justice and intersectionality; paradigms mentioned by some participants echo concepts of cognitive liberation, wherein social movements need to firmly believe in the ability of their cause to succeed if they are indeed to do so (McAdam, 1999; McAdam and Snow, 2009); fostering a greater sense of community, and a deeper sense of impending success |
| The rules of the system | UNFCCC rules | High | Identifying and targeting sources of disempowerment; efforts to increase physical access to negotiating spaces and ability to organize peaceful demonstrations |
| The goals of the system | Goals of youth participation in UNFCCC | Low | Youth participants may strategize on their participation goals within the UNFCCC: is the goal to affect the final outcome document? In that case, targeting lobbying and organizing would need to take place well in advance of the COPs themselves. Other goals of UNFCCC participation can include coalition-building with like-minded NGOs and global networking or media leveraging for local and domestic campaigns |
| The power to add, change, evolve, or self-organize system structure | Political windows of opportunity for youth organizing goals | Low | Utilizing the COP space as an opportunity for a policy goal that can advance climate goals outside the scope of the UNFCCC process |
| The structure of information flow and the power to self-organize system structure | Youth networks and coalition-building | Moderate | Building strategic alliances among different NGOs at COP – particularly within youth organizations |