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Paper short abstract:

The paper highlights the crucial role of young environmentalists as vital political agents in global sustainability, based on Amartya Sen's Capability Approach. It calls for inclusivity, acknowledging their capabilities and rights in addressing environmental challenges for a sustainable world.

Paper long abstract:

The practice of environmental activism carries significant risks in various regions of the world, especially in nations as Colombia and Brazil, where the private interests of political, business, and illegal armed groups clash with environmental concerns. These groups often view activism as a threat to their economic, political, or territorial interests and resort to extreme tactics such as intimidation, kidnapping, torture, and even murder to silence activists. Among the most vulnerable to these dynamics are young environmentalists, whose voices and actions are often dismissed and undervalued within political structures due to age biases and adult-centric dynamics. In Colombia's context, the struggle for environmental protection is particularly intense. The country's rich biodiversity is threatened by various factors, including deforestation, illegal mining, and armed conflict. Environmental activists, including young people, face risks such as threats, attacks, and killings for their advocacy efforts.

Drawing upon the normative proposal of Amartya Sen´s Capability Approach, this paper focuses on the necessary recognition of young environmentalists as political agents and essential actors in the defence of the environment and global sustainability. Recognising young people as political agents entails understanding their capabilities to influence and act in the public sphere, as well as to drive concrete changes in environmental policies and practices. Encouraging active participation of young people in the political arena can lead to the formulation and implementation of policies prioritising environmental protection and sustainability, benefiting not only the current generation but also future generations. Moreover, by acknowledging the political capability of young environmentalists, it is possible to challenge prevailing age-related prejudices that hinder their involvement in decision-making processes and impede the achievement of sustainable development goals.

Adopting a capability perspective when assessing the contributions and potential of young activists allows for a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to addressing environmental challenges, considering their capabilities, aspirations, and rights as essential stakeholders in the pursuit of a sustainable and equitable world. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to foster an environment that values and empowers young activists, enabling them to contribute effectively to the preservation and enhancement of the natural environment. Furthermore, this research highlights a significant theoretical gap regarding studies on environmental activist youth from the Global South. The majority of research focuses on the experiences of youth from the Global North, perpetuating hegemonic practices and overlooking the unique perspectives and realities of youth from the Global South actively engaged in environmental advocacy.