Main content

Do climate protests ever work?

Climate activists have blocked highways, scaled oil rigs and even thrown soup at master artworks. But have protests ever made a difference?

Climate activists have blocked highways, scaled oil rigs and even thrown soup at master artworks. But have protests ever made a difference?

The modern green movement started in the 1970s when Greenpeace sailed a fishing boat towards a nuclear test site in Alaska. It now encompasses everything from bake-ins and marches to Radiohead concerts.

A small minority of activists even favour breaking the law to raise awareness about climate change. Some of them have superglued themselves to railings and blocked bridges.

Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt has made a new podcast series about the green movement – and the heated splits among activists about tactics. He talks to Climate Question hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar about the past - and future - of climate protest.

You can hear Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement here: /programmes/m002ybbl

Got a question for The Climate Question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producers: Simon Watts, Diane Richardson and Ellie House
Sound Mix: Mike Regaard
Editor: SImon Watts

Available now

26 minutes

Last on

Saturday 04:32GMT

Featured

  • .

Broadcasts

  • Sun 26 Jul 2026 13:06GMT
  • Sun 26 Jul 2026 13:32GMT
  • Sun 26 Jul 2026 21:06GMT
  • Last Wednesday 01:32GMT
  • Last Wednesday 08:32GMT
  • Last Wednesday 19:06GMT
  • Saturday 04:32GMT

Podcast