Culture and identity in climate policy

Culture and (collective) identity need to become more central in thinking about how ambitious climate policy for decarbonization can be enacted within domestic (i.e., national, subnational) politics. Policy attention has long centered on material costs benefits of action, including distributions costs/benefits between different actors over time. The challenge reconciling concentrated short-term specific groups with diffuse long-term a much wider range remains central, particularly considering inequality both societies. But culture also play an important role shaping the opportunities, challenges, dynamics realizing action (e.g., following Hulme, 2009). For example, social construction risk feasibility phasing-out industries transitioning toward new practices, fractious populism polarization that threaten derail collective all have strong links issues identity. most general sense refers basic fabric ascribes meaning people their relations which may tied history, language, community, artifacts. This creates tendencies think world particular ways, influencing preferences decision making (Zaval, 2016). Adger et al. (2013) view as comprising “symbols express meaning” “create outlooks behaviours.” Bulkeley (2016) not only milieu mediating relations, but co-emergent everyday socio-material practices infrastructures technologies), forms subjectivity embodiment identities roles) resistances frictions against deliberate changes). In this sense, infuses people's ways meaning, is continuously (re)produced through engagements others world. Collective or (hereon, simply “identity”) conception self relation perceived commonalities group such experiences, interests, solidarity (van Stekelenburg, 2013). Identity been topic sociological, geographical, political scholarship. motivate mobilization shared causes movements (Meyer al., 2002), place/space geographical processes (Warf, 2010), linked demands recognition dignity well partisan tribalism contemporary polarized politics (Fukuyama, 2018). Furthermore, arise at scales. change scholars highlighted national Eckersley, 2016), community Mayer, 2018), McCright & Dunlap, 2011), religious Peifer 2016) identities. are related synonymous. seen aspect broader notion culture. Both increasingly literature last decade provide complementary entry points understanding intangible drivers behavior regarding policy. Yet, these approached widely varying ways,1 implications strategic always clear. Bringing lines into dialogue needed explain (in)action find opportunities advance complex social-political-historical contexts. Commentary, I briefly survey some prominent ideas orientation might proactively engage still under-recognized issues. More broadly, contend without attending matters identity, encounter deep-seated resistance even provoke backlash. influence multiple areas decarbonization. phasing out coal mining communities nations (Brown Spiegel, 2019), creation low-carbon housing mobility (Bulkeley durability (Lockwood, 2013), impact right-wing youth (Wielk Standlee, 2021) Hulme (2009) argues fundamentally refracted it comes understood gain value, Ghosh (2017, p. 8) “broader imaginative cultural failure … lies heart crisis.” Several thematic clusters observable (Table 1). First, mediator perceptions risk, expectations) responses adaptation and/or mitigation actions). approach2 locates intermediate causal external forces emergent tends relatively static productive action. Second, generative co-constitutive practices. approach3 interplay discourse, materiality, suggests incoherent, hence indeterminate. Third, disruptive force due investments categories, especially identities, clash approach4 conflictual interactions grievances norms, views largely antagonistic. Nevertheless, typology stances illustrative rather than exhaustive; three approaches reflect differing emphases boundaries them blurry. focus line concerns come make context (possibly) act response. Here place attachment life risks (Adger could include drought, flood, sea-level rise 2013; Rühlemann Jordan, 2021; Thomas pro-environmental actions individuals translation interventions carbon markets economies traditions governance extant narratives (Knox-hayes Hayes, 2014). Feola (2019) argue dynamic perspective examine experience interconnected, propose “knowing” knowledge processes), “being” sense-making lived experiences practices), “doing” responses). encourages differentiated context-sensitive examinations relates diverse urban/rural, Indigenous/non-Indigenous, wealthy/non-wealthy). A stance useful place-based studies environmental change, where capacity respond they adapt circumstances. reproduce, embeddedness discursive formations construct roles expectations. situated activities mobility, work, leisure, caregiving) discourses shape what desirable see themselves pp. 9–10) explains “culture generates desires” automobiles entailing freedom), appliances services, comforts, aesthetics), places live nearness water's edge conveying status). Paterson (2007) examines automobiles, epitomize freedom simultaneously constrain when essential day-to-day living. From another angle, Brown Spiegel highlight intersectional injustices gender, race, class) persistent colonialism, patriarchy) key struggle transitions away from production communities. Distilling politics, contrasted common informational frame-centered approaches, “devices,” “desires,” “dissent.” reflection multifaceted afford hinder shifts studying arises combinations materialities. collides fault personal categories. associated level polity nation) communities, often mobilizing basis ideology, values, worldviews. present its potentially negative consequences (Hess Renner, 2019). light, Lockwood (2018) populist opposition best explained by ideological factors structural economic factors, symbolic appeals cross-class support. generally heterogeneous society, Laidely observes differential (and economic) capital create resentment among non-elites imposing deprivation reflecting status-seeking elites. At level, observe fusion fossil fuels aspects countries United States (Daggett, Poland (Kuchler Bridge, Russia (Bouzarovski Bassin, Canada (Dalby, India (Lahiri-Dutt, Australia (Curran, 2021). Conversely, projecting outward responsibility impacts other support Norway Germany (Eckersley, Dunlap (2011) significantly higher denial politically conservative white males States, arguing protection under shifting Krange similar pattern Norway. Daggett “petro-masculinity” moves viewed threats fuel consumption symbols large cars, certain labor). hold generational towns), ambiguities energy (Della Bosca Gillespie, disruptive, least problematic, aggregate patterns deep socio-political divisions present. Different clearly types research questions, no single approach will complete analytical vantage point. Nonetheless, there opportunity across strands thinking. Approach 1 (Culture perception action) draws historical places, core concern resilience cultures threatened conditions human responses. somewhat homogenous culture, enriched insights continual reproduction (highlighted 2) cleavages contestation 3). 2 (Cultural practices) (re)production discourses, interest formation subjectivities, desires, tensions taken overemphasize fluidity abstraction historically formed meanings 1) divisive worldview ideology 3 (Clashing investments) roots struggles drive conflict community. reified “negative” (at concerning groups), categories indeterminacy allow 2). Importantly, conceptual differences doubt complicate efforts combine variables, assumptions fixity/indeterminacy focal scales analysis). creative exchange possible sources inspiration questions inquiry, inclusion importance governance. Finding realize transitions/transformations nations, regions, continues prove extremely challenging. How prospects pace)? necessarily using instrumentally harnessing arts public engagement), rather, giving careful whether address potential discord conflicting loss, meanings, identifications values). unlikely straightforward. (2013, 116) state (regarding adaptation) “[c]ulture difficult incorporate policy: losses goods easily compensated swayed arguments economically rational adjustments risk.” Moreover, conflicts resolvable any intervention. same time, arguably better take account target attune Three concern: (1) engagement (2) recreation (3) recipients. profiled each suggest meaning/s arise. 1, existing connections place, values. Climate aim wellbeing seek tie reimagined myths (relating nostalgia, fear, pride, justice) meaning-making instincts, translate differently places. 2, discourse subjectivities desires involve transformed life, reconfigure infrastructure reduce if private remain necessary fulfilling then use many (following 2016, 189). 3, worldviews, actual affiliations/sympathies. recognize legitimate grievance disaffected build foundational values norms recast (2017) explore moral (such authority, stability, duty, sanctity) relate resonance “prevention impacts, sovereign territory nature” 2017, 385). policy, recreated. inherited experiences. start self-determining sustain recreate Barnett (2021) continuity, esteem, self-efficacy Such unfold timeframes require ongoing resources deliberation experimentation). would culturally constructed embedded artifacts “new being” citizens world, circumstances enable this. changes work welfare arrangements stability status high-carbon consumption. characteristics affiliation, defense Bell York, 2010; Della champion de-linked fuels. defuse power anchors some. outlined above shaped needs vulnerabilities) agency pursuing wellbeing, resilience). own capabilities interpret deem appropriate. combining scientific traditional knowledge, supporting experiment developing (Feola infrastructures, resistance. minimize experienced adopting reconfiguring innovative emerging enabling retrofits (Karvonen, programs encourage firms align becoming (Dowling overcoming direct reframed appeal opponents values) possible. alternatively overcome appealing unavoidable transformative Emerging look beyond instrumental strategies incentives, sanctions, information provision) green (new) deal seeking feel unsettled proactive deeper immediately clear far-away vision future. Diverse inform regard, elucidate, test, innovate possibilities. agenda extends technologies. so far mainly focused sociotechnical devices buildings, appliances). technologies geoengineering algorithmic deployment nuclear capture) intersect ways. human–nature democracy, affinities versus global) debates, yet vastly underexplored. Thus overall, engaging complement addressing distributional neglecting dimensions overlooking conflict, bluntly lives, creating injustice feed volatility, backlash WIREs Change, we welcome proposals authors review articles understanding, explaining, critically transformation. paper received funding European Research Council (ERC) Union's Horizon 2020 innovation programme (grant agreement No. 949332). author gratefully thanks Giuseppe Feola, Harriet Bulkeley, Mike Elliot Whiteside providing helpful comments previous version. Shortcomings solely author.