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Project title

The Agency, Emotions and Language of Climate Activism

Primary Funding Agency

Taighde �ireann-Research Ireland

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

Lead Organisation

University College Dublin (UCD)

Lead Applicant

Not listed

Project Abstract

This project explores an undertheorised topic in climate and environmental philosophy: the agency, emotions and language of climate activism. Climate activists, whether as protestors, school strikers, or using litigation, civil disobedience and sabotage as methods, are one of the most important driving forces for social change. But while climate activists face a variety of philosophical problems, this has so far been neglected by philosophical research. My project is a first step to mitigate this, providing the first full exploration of the philosophy of climate activism. My project aims to provide a comprehensive philosophical account on the rational, moral and emotional agency of climate activists, going beyond the current literature of climate ethics to examine the standpoint of the climate movement. My project has three central research topics: (1) Conceptual loss (2) the rationality of despair and (3) Greenwashing and its effects. I first provide an account of normative disorientation for climate activists: during an increasing climate crisis paired with inaction from governments and corporations, climate activists face the loss of their moral concepts that orient their actions, such as �climate emergency�, �just transition� and �climate justice�. I then explore the rationality of despair about climate breakdown, and argue that the consensus in academia and the climate movement, that we ought to avoid despair as we need hope to sustain climate action, has moved too quickly. Despair is an important moral and political emotion that activists need to find a space for. Finally, I use feminist speech act theory to provide an account of Greenwashing, and its effects on policy-makers and climate activists. Together, all three topics will take a first step in exploring philosophical issues climate activists worldwide face. Philosophy can play a central role for the global climate movement by articulating these.

Grant Approved

�112,986.54

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

3. Climate Solutions, Transition Management and Opportunities

Start Date

09/01/2024

Initial Projected Completion Date

31/08/2026