Youth activism for sustainable development and the environment in Algeria

Since 2019 young Algerians have been engaged in a massive peaceful mobilisation on an unprecedented scale for democracy, dignity and justice. Within this movement, there have also been deep reflections around the importance of protecting the environment. This has included questions of sovereignty over Algeria’s natural resources, and a rejection of polluting industries, such as fracking by international oil companies. This comes at a time of increasing awareness of the global environmental crises of climate change and biodiversity, as well as of the need to diversify the Algerian economy and benefit from the significant potential of solar and other forms of renewable energy. This paper will draw on different political ecology theories of natural resource governance such as those of Elinor Ostrom, and theories around civic engagement. It will explore this raising awareness of climate and ecological crises in Algeria and examine how youth are responding on the ground through transformative projects of ownership and resource management. How do they imagine their futures and how are they supported in working towards achieving that vision?