Environmental and climate activism and advocacy in the EU

In this chapter we outline major instances of environmental activism and advocacy in Europe in recent years in the context of a longer history of waves of environmentalism. This situated account points to a fairly clear (though not necessarily formal) demarcation of roles in EU environmentalism where social movements push for change through activist strategies that target governments at various levels, and NGOs use advocacy strategies initially to push for changes in EU policy and subsequently to monitor compliance and implementation. We also explore nuances, discussing how advocacy and activism overlap, take more and less prominent positions, and link general shifts from advocacy to activism to new actors, frames of understanding, and political developments. Advocacy and activist ‘modes’ thus emerge clearly as strategic choices. Certain tactics are favoured when deemed more effective for achieving influence, though this does not mean that others disappear: rather, they take a backseat.