A dominant focus on the cognitive abilities of individuals to make rational decisions fails to recognize the emotions involved in energy experiences. Adopting an emotional lens shifts the focus away from convincing communities to accept new technologies or persuading individuals to take up prescribed behaviours, and towards collaboratively managing a low-carbon transition.
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Acknowledgements
The author thanks their wonderful colleagues for their support: R. Robison and M. Thomas for reading a first draft of this piece and giving their feedback, and A. Crowther for reading a final draft and helping with final tweaks. The author also thanks P. Lewis for inviting them to give a keynote at the event “The Politics of Emotions in the Net Zero Transition” in June 2024, which encouraged them to synthesize their thoughts on emotions in the energy transition.
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Rohse, M. Taking an emotional lens is key to managing a low-carbon transition. Nat. Rev. Clean Technol. 1, 305–306 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44359-025-00044-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44359-025-00044-2
