Teenage climate activists keeping close eye on talks

THEY took to the streets last year to demand climate justice, now the children and teens of the climate campaign are warning they will be a significant political force in the next election.

The school strikers, who followed the example of Greta Thunberg, were taken seriously by some but treated as dismissible by others.

There was even a minority who derided them for being overly idealistic.

If politicians succeed in forming a stable government over the coming weeks, the next time there is a general election the vast swathe of these articulate, engaged and galvanised teenagers will be able to vote.

So it’s worth asking how these young climate activists, who thronged the pavements of our streets and towns, will feel if the Greens go into government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

“We’re gonna be p **** d,” Saoirse Exton (14) told the Irish Independent.

She lives in Co Clare and has been involved in climate activism for over a year.

She felt the Green Party benefited electorally because of the youth climate protests, though she was disappointed climate change didn’t emerge as a bigger election issue.

“They had so many opportunities to do so well on climate. I don’t see us voting for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil when we’re grown up,” she said.

Support for the Greens going into power with FF/FG is low among climate activists.

But Conor Slattery (17) from Dublin is one of a minority of supporters for the idea.

He said the backlash against the Greens could be even greater if the next government keeps Ireland as a climate laggard.

He said he doesn’t trust Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, but thinks they could become credible if they were influenced by the Greens.

“We need the Greens in government. They are Ireland’s strongest political advocates for climate action,” he said.

Toto Daly (17) lives in Dublin, but grew up in Galway.

She found it “unnerving” watching the Greens negotiate with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

“Why lose our support again by joining two parties whose climate action has been abysmal?” she said.

“It is not a matter of opinion,” she added about the suggestion there will never be a perfect government, and that young people like her are too idealistic.

“Facts and science are not debatable. I don’t think there is any such thing as ‘too idealistic’ when it comes to the planet.”

Mira Henchi (16), from Fermoy, Co Cork, agreed.

“What is too idealistic is the belief that we all have, that there can be infinite economic growth on a planet with limited natural resources,” Mira said.

She said if people like her are disappointed by the Greens going into government, they don’t know who they’ll vote for.

Theo Cullen-Mouze (17), from Clare Island, said in his school most seem to support Sinn Féin – despite the party’s climate change commitments being underwhelming.