“Setting Fire to the Rain” 1st Year University Students and the “Greta Effect” on Climate Change Activism in Thailand

Abstract

This is a research paper that is focused on assessing issues relating to Climate Change Activism by 1^st year university students and its implications for environmental concerns and issues.

An interpretive methodology was utilised in order to help understand 1^st year university student perceptions of Climate Change Activism in Bangkok. The scope for this research were 1^st year private university students involved in climate change activism. Consequently, the population of interest was made up of 4 separate groupings, located at multiple private university sites geographically situated in Bangkok.

The research outcomes comprised of Four (4) main themes: Motivation, Society; Climate Change Strategies; and university Issues; and Twelve (12) sub-themes, underpinned by 219 conversation targets.

The paper addresses the raised issues of 1^st year private university students’ knowledge and attempts of influencing climate change developments in Thailand, in relation to western approaches through the “Thunberg effect”.