In a world filled with division, the CIDAPE (Climate, Inequality and Democratic Action: The Force of Political Emotions) seeks ways to establish a more engaged citizenry to tackle climate change in democratic societies.
Political polarisation and an eroding trust in institutions are increasingly straining democracies, hindering effective collective action in times of environmental crisis. The urgency of the climate crisis, coupled with rising socio-economic inequalities, underscores the need for robust democratic action that integrates citizens' emotions in decision-making processes.
It is now more important than ever to critically assess the role of political emotions in these developments. Especially destructive emotions like anger, fear or distrust can pose enormous challenges to the effective mitigation of the climate crisis, providing a breeding ground for far-right populism and climate change denial. And yet, the same emotions also have the potential to foster action towards sustainability and social cohesion, sometimes in co-existence with more productive emotions such as hope or compassion.
Towards more inclusive and emotionally attuned EU climate governance:
To address these complex dynamics, CIDAPE identifies how emotional narratives influence policy reception, social trust, and democratic engagement. The project aligns with key EU climate strategies, such as the European Green Deal, to enhance participatory governance.
Our project brings together 11 partners from nine European countries, all dedicated to exploring the affective impact of policy and media narratives, social movements and other forms of citizen participation. In understanding the role of emotions in climate politics and how they shape notions of socio-economic inequalities, CIDAPE is redefining citizen engagement to strengthen democratic climate action.
The project applies interdisciplinary methods from the social sciences and the humanities, combining discourse analysis, ethnographic studies, digital media analysis, participatory citizen panels as well as consultations with policymakers.
Emotional skill set for policymakers and civil society to foster social cohesion:
The project develops practical citizen engagement strategies that incorporate participatory deliberation based on mutual respect. CIDAPE’s goal is to ensure a direct pathway to real-world impact by advocating for policy discussions that are inclusive and resonate with the emotional concerns of citizens.
Understanding how emotions influence political communication and policy perception will provide helpful insights for political institutions and civil society stakeholders to overcome the social tensions in times of polarisation. By providing an emotion-sensitive skill set to bridge the gap between government action and citizen needs, the project’s findings will not only influence European policy but also serve as a model for global democratic innovation in the face of climate change.
