Community membership as a driver of climate action: From rural hunters to progressive activists

Abstract

In this paper we show how community membership can motivate climate activism in two very different contexts: for politically conservative hunters and fishers in the western United States, and for progressive climate activists in the US and UK. In the first context, we describe how members of the right-wing hunting community emphasize their collective identity through shared ways of communicating, and as a result, encourage climate activism and challenge the political polarization around climate action. In the second context, we illustrate the importance of feelings of community to experiencing positive mental health effects from climate activism and maintaining the desire to continue participating in activism. This research suggests that, by highlighting collective identities, activists can challenge political polarization and promote climate action even among historically right-wing groups. Furthermore, climate activist groups should cultivate a strong sense of community to ensure that members experience mental health benefits, not detriments, from their engagement in climate action.