Working with passion: Emotionology, corporate environmentalism and climate change

Abstract

In responding to climate change, organizations navigate in an increasingly volatile emotional milieu in which feelings of fear, anxiety, hostility and anger shape public debate. In this article, we explore how corporations have responded to the broader 'emotionology' surrounding climate change. Our focus is on the role of corporate sustainability specialists as intermediaries, or 'emotionology workers', acting between broader social debates and local organizational contexts. Through analysis of interview and documentary data from major Australian corporations we explore both the activities of these individuals in translating and shaping climate change emotionology within their organizations, and how they manage their own emotionality in this work. We find that sustainability professionals are key agents in the design and implementation of a positive emotionology of climate change as a challenge and opportunity for corporate action. However, these activities result in tensions and contradictions for these individuals in reconciling their own emotional engagement with climate change and the negative impact of corporate activities on the environment. Our analysis contributes to an understanding of the roles and activities of 'emotionology work', as well as broadening the concept of 'emotion work' to include those involved in promoting broader social change in organizational settings.

Towards a progressive understanding of performativity in critical management studies

“…Both internal conflicts among different groups of managers and the often socially oriented personalities of CSR managers (Wright and Nyberg, 2012) can serve as a foothold for CMS researchers who seek to engage with the promoters of CSR within companies. As Visser and Crane (2010) suggest, the protagonists of CSR may turn into internal activists and drivers of change.…”

The intrinsic role of the banks in decarbonizing the economy

“…The human race and international community must stand up to the challenge and combat the climate change surge. The banking sector is essentially pivotal as part of the solution and it is in this regard that this article examines the critical role being played and continue to be played to combat global climate change and global warming (Wright & Nyberg, 2012). The article utilized qualitative research approach by relying on existing data such as contemporary literature, books, reports, international initiatives and instruments (Marshall & Rossman, 2014).…”

Employee Rhetoric in the Acceptance or Rejection of Corporate Environmentalism

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