Ardoin publishes youth-led study of motivations and supports in youth climate activism

Nicole Ardoin co-authored a study in Springer Nature Link exploring what motivates young people to become and remain engaged in climate activism. The research was conducted in collaboration with local young people as interviewers. The results found that formal education experiences positively impacted climate activism through both structural elements (curriculum and extracurriculars) and normative influences (interactions with educators and peers). Although school experiences were not the only motivators and supports, and exposure to meaningful climate education does not occur in all schools, the work highlights how formal education can be a vital part of a young person’s journey to climate activism.

Read the open-access article here. 

Wagonfeld, A., Bowers, A.W. & Ardoin, N.M. A youth-led study of motivations and supports in youth climate activism: formal education as part of the climate learningscape. Climatic Change 179, 116 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-026-04204-6