| dc.description.abstract | The 2015 Paris Agreement has given rise to a new trend of climate litigation: strategic climate court cases. Distinct from traditional environmental litigation, these cases – often started by activists – aim to bring about broader societal shifts, such as advancing effective climate policies, raising public awareness, and changing the behaviour of governments and industry actors. While the legal and economic impacts have been widely studied, the more symbolic and societal impact of these cases received limited to no attention. This research studies climate court cases as a source of inspiration. A media analysis and 25 in-depth interviews with Dutch and Swiss climate activists revealed that strategic climate court cases expand the horizons of what people can imagine, thereby opening up the possibility space for new ways of thinking, believing and doing. Building on the theory of imagination and imaginaries, this study underscores the central role of imagination in transformations. Imagination of how things may become motivates action towards change, and in turn, societal change further expands the imagination. Imagination can be studied at individual and collective levels; this multi-level research explores both. At the individual level, it introduces a novel operationalisation of inspiration, considering the role of emotions in bridging imagination and action. Here, inspiration is understood as a combination of (1) expanded imagination, and (2) increased emotional energy, which resonates to feelings of enthusiasm, empowerment, a sense of social connectedness, hope, and motivation. Interviews with Dutch and Swiss climate activists reveal that climate court cases instil new realisations and beliefs about citizens’ political agency, climate accountability, and potential (future) systemic changes, while also increasing individuals’ emotional energy. The latter is found to serve as the emotional engine that propels imagination and motivation for action. At the collective level, conducting a media analysis, this research explores whether climate court cases can be considered an imaginary: an idea or vision that has garnered widespread recognition and is institutionally stabilised, publicly performed and collectively held. Lastly, confirming this premise, this research studies the dynamics between a shared imaginary and individual imagination and inspiration, underscoring the relevance of imaginaries as they provide individuals with validation and a sense of support for their ideas, values, desires, and emotions. | |
