Can Climate Adaptation Prevent Environmental Extremism—or Just Delay It?

About this episode

This episode explores the evolution of environmental activism and the role of climate adaptation in potentially preventing extreme tactics among activists.

In episode 250 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons speaks with Dr. Thomas Zeitzoff , professor at American University and author of No Option But Sabotage: The Radical Environmental Movement and the Climate Crisis , to explore a question at the edge of today's climate conversation: what drives movements to escalate? Drawing on his research on political violence and environmental activism, Zeitzoff traces the evolution of the radical environmental movement—from sabotage in the 1990s and early 2000s to today's climate justice movement focused on mass protest and disruption. The conversation explores how tactics shift, what motivates activists, and why—despite intensifying climate impacts—we haven't seen a widespread return to more extreme actions. At the same time, a bigger question emerges: what actually works? As climate impacts become more visible, activism is evolving—but not all attention leads to progress. That's where climate adaptation enters the conversation. At the center of the discussion is a question that reframes the debate: If adaptation and climate response were working, would people feel pushed toward more extreme tactics? This episode doesn't advocate for…

People in this episode

Host: Doug Parsons

Guest: Dr. Thomas Zeitzoff

Topics covered

• climate adaptation
• environmental activism
• political violence
• climate justice movement
• extreme tactics
• sabotage
• mass protest

Keywords

• climate change
• environmental extremism
• activism
• sabotage
• climate justice
• political violence
• adaptation
• protest

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: American University

Books & works: No Option But Sabotage: The Radical Environmental Movement and the Climate Crisis

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