Trends in Environmental Activism: A Local to Global Perspective

Environment has both positive as well as negative impact on the life of (wo)men on Earth. Due to widespread human activities irreparable loss has happened to the environment and continues to happen which has a deep impact on the lives of (wo)men across the globe. Environment and environmentalism have been in dominant discourse since the sixties. Noted author and thinker Ramachandra Guha argues, ‘environmentalism must be viewed as a social program, a charter of action which seeks to protect cherished habitats, protest against their degradation, and prescribe less destructive technologies and lifestyle’ (Guha, Environmentalism: A global history, Allen Lane (Penguin Group), 2014). Environment is common to humankind and environmental issues such as loss of biodiversity, climate change, deforestation, ocean acidification, desertification, global warming, etc. are also causes of common concern for all regardless of culture, nationality and national border to protect the environment. Environmental activism is on the rise across the globe which implies ‘the actions of individuals or groups that protect or aid the environment’. It is not a new phenomenon; it is as old as the environmental concern itself. History is replete with instances of such activism locally, nationally and globally. Chipko movement (embrace the trees to oppose felling) was a significant movement in India led by local villagers and women in Doon valley to protect the forest and Himalayan ecology which was followed by numbers of local movements for the protection of environment. Twenty million people demonstrated against destruction of the environment on April 22, 1970, in all 50 states. Similar activist movements have happened and continue to happen locally, nationally and globally for the greater cause of the environment and humanity (Earth Day 2022). Also, such activism is being shown by individuals, groups (large and small), civil society, and NGOs (national and international). This chapter aims at conceptualising the idea of ‘environmental activism’ and discussing how that is taking place from local to global level. Further, it will examine the outcome of such activism and the way forward from it.