Climate emotions in remote, rural, and small communities across Canada: Exploring lived experiences through interviews and letters.

As the consequences of climate change become more severe and widespread, efforts to understand and address the emotional dimensions of the climate crisis are increasingly necessary. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of climate emotions in remote, rural, and small communities across Canada. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a letter writing process with 27 participants representing diversity in terms of geography, climate vulnerability, and socio-demographic characteristics. Thematic network analysis resulted in three global themes: (1) complex, intense, and interconnected climate emotions, (2) factors shaping climate emotions, and (3) consequences of climate emotions. The findings demonstrate that the lived experiences of climate emotions involve a wide array of complex, interconnected, and embodied emotions characterized by affective dilemmas and tensions. For most, climate emotions are challenging and experienced in isolation resulting in consequences for wellbeing, life decisions, and action. Importantly, the data illustrate the influence of intersecting identities, social factors, perceived responsibilities, and place in terms of giving rise and shape to climate emotions. The findings also emphasize that the lived experiences of climate emotions may be particularly impactful in remote, rural, and small communities that are commonly marginalized and disempowered, where people tend to have close connections to the natural world, and where a socialized silencing around climate change and climate emotions is pervasive. Taken together, the findings highlight the imperative of supporting collective coping through place-specific and intersectional processes that recognize the tensions and challenges that characterize climate emotions as well as the diversity of factors that give rise and shape to climate emotions.