Browsing by Subject "eco-emotions"

Aim. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of climate emotions among adult climate activists. The purpose is to investigate how these emotions enable climate awakenings in relation to the theory of transformative learning and edge-emotions. The climate crisis is a wicked problem which triggers challenging emotions ranging all from apathy or denial to disavowal and wishful thinking. In order to develop climate education to support these mental health issues, tools are urgently needed to foster constructive hope and agency on climate action. Methods. The study uses thematic semi-structured interviews with six adult climate activists (median age 60) from two new climate activist groups in Finland: Elokapina and Aktivistimummot. In the thematic analysis of the interviews, five themes were identified; transformative learning, emotions, future, action and social interaction. The qualitative interviews were complemented with a climate emotions survey including 89 emotions, which worked both as talking points in the interview and as basic quantifiable data on the most dominant climate emotions among the activists. Results and conclusions. Interaction with social groups, empathy and the future emerged as common narratives and meaningful triggers in the process of transformative learning for climate action. Eight dominant climate emotions were identified that were shared by all of the participants, out of which sadness, moral duty and commitment stood out as the strongest shared emotions. The study argues that in order to educate for transformative learning for climate action, a shift in discourse is needed from the individual-centered approach to a frame fostering constructive hope and agency thinking for systemic change.