Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Numerous scholars have devoted their work to understand the persistent inaction on global warming. The emerging research field of climate obstruction contributes to this equation by uncovering the rigorous efforts of resourceful networks to delay or hinder climate action as well as the complex mosaic of identities, interests, discourses and actors reinforcing said efforts. The concept goes beyond climate denialism to paint a fuller picture of current practices that vigorously hinder socioecological sustainable transitions.

The purpose of this study is to explore how Swedish environmental advocacy actors experience and strategically navigate climate obstruction. Environmental advocates working with the urgent and overlapping ecological crises hold first-hand experience of navigating this phenomenon. Despite being acknowledged for making scientific knowledge accessible and providing space for public deliberation, they are currently experiencing pushbacks such as a shrinking civic space and tech-facilitated affective polarisation that further complicate their work.

Through interviews with eight environmental advocates and a structured analysis of the collected data, this study shows ample experiences of climate obstruction as well as strategic reflections on how to address it. The results indicate that advocates use a diverse but complementing set of strategies to creatively and intentionally counter and pre-empt climate obstruction. A central theme among their strategical reflections is to raise awareness through relatable science communication. Another is to consciously move beyond matters of knowledge to address the underlying aspects of identities and interests that they perceive to be reinforcing climate obstruction.

A key conclusion is that the advocates connect matters of climate obstruction to matters of democracy and implement strategies to vitalise democracy as part of their work. With the Swedish elections of 2026 coming up, environmental advocates accelerate their work to raise climate action on the election agenda while climate obstruction is broadcasted by influential actors who effectively downplay climate issues. As climate obstruction grows in complexity and sophistication, the pressure grows on abilities to reveal, resist, pre-empt and counter it to work for climate action. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on how to identify climate obstruction and illuminates a variety of strategies to navigate the phenomenon.