Eco-Types: Five Ways of Caring about the Environment

Emily Huddart Kennedy's Eco-Types outlines a spectrum of eco-social relationships that range from engagement to indifference, and suggests that acknowledging these relationships can help us overcome political polarization and protect the environment.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 04 October 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

When we envision the ideal environmentalist, we often conjure up an image of someone who is deeply committed to reducing their own environmental footprint through individual choices such as opting for fuel-efficient cars, reducing meat consumption, or refusing plastic straws. While this is a benchmark that many aspire to and others reject, it is only one aspect of the broader spectrum of eco-social relationships. In her book "Eco-Types," Emily Huddart Kennedy explores the diverse range of eco-social relationships that exist, highlighting a spectrum that extends from engagement to indifference.

Drawing on three years of extensive interviews and research, Kennedy presents five archetypal relationships with the environment: the Eco-Engaged, who are typically politically liberal and exhibit a profound concern for the environment, a moral commitment to protect it, and the belief that individual actions can make a significant difference; the Self-Effacing, who share the Eco-Engageds concerns but lack confidence in their ability to impact change; the Optimists, who are often politically conservative and hold a positive view of their relationship with the environment, questioning the severity of environmental problems and resenting insinuations that they are not environmentally conscious; the Fatalists, who are pessimistic about environmental decline and feel little motivation to adopt environmentally friendly habits; and the Indifferent, who have no affinity for any aspect of the environmental movement.

Kennedy's book sheds light on the fact that when liberals perceive themselves as having a moral monopoly on environmental issues, polarization can ensue. Recognizing that not everyone needs to care about the environment in the same way is crucial if we are serious about protecting our planet. By acknowledging and valuing the diverse eco-social relationships that exist, we can foster a sense of unity and collaboration, enabling us to work together towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

Weight: 520g
Dimension: 161 x 243 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691239569