Becoming engaged: The role of emotions and hope in the transformation to sustainability

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to provide an understanding of the becomings of human agents for transformative change. I will explore how people find a meaningful place in the transformation to sustainability by analysing how they become deeply engaged in climate change action, what their emotional motivations are, and what makes it meaningful for them to hope in the doom and gloom of climate change. The participants interviewed in this thesis are actively engaged in the transformation to sustainability in Oslo, Norway through politics, activism and social entrepreneurship. The participants were selected because of their deep commitment to transformative change. I argue that a better understanding of their engagement can generate new which may result in hopeful and transformative ways forward. The data generated deep insight on the in-depth transformation of becoming engaged. The participants stories it became clear that even those who do not care about the environment at all can develop a deep responsibility to care for the planet, and that such deep engagement leads to practical, political and personal climate change action. A meaningful place in the transformation to sustainability is found as the participants become deeply engaged. This is an intense and deeply emotional process. Emotions drive the engagement, and the transformative potential of emotions is tied to their ability to move us into action. Creating a space for emotions is part of the becoming of active human agents for transformative change. In this emotional space anger and frustration; belonging; care and responsibility can develop into motivations for transformative action. Hope is the foundation of engagement. Becoming hopeful involves constructing meaningful hope by developing specific, relational and practiced hope. I want to thank Osloforskning for the financial support they provided for the work with this thesis.