As far as I can tell, it sure seems like the amount of protests and the participants of these protest is on the rise and has been for the last decade or so.

So it at least doesn't seem like it is alienating more people than it is fostering.

I agree that the coverage makes it seem like these are just some petulant children who make life bad for the average Joe, but to be fair, the same can be said for practically all protests. So maybe, just maybe, the coverage is biased towards upholding the status quo, and maybe we shouldn't listen to those who wants to uphold the status quo if that is keeping us on the path to climate collapse.

Are you asking if there's any evidence that protests cause change? Because there is plenty of that.

Or are you diminishing these protests specifically? If so, why?

If we keep the current course, the climate will collapse.

If all cars idle on the street from now until forever, the climate will collapse.

If cars idle for one day and it inspires change, the climate might not collapse.