In this perspective, we argue for a social, multi-affective, contextual approach to emotions in environmental communication, departing from an observation that the field has often considered emotions as tools for change. To complement instrumental approaches, we stress how environmental communication as a scholarly field can benefit from a situated and contextual approach to emotions, embracing a wider perspective on emotions that recognizes that all emotions are valid. Using examples from art, activism, science communication, and cultural and psychological research, we illustrate a multifaceted approach to emotions that includes social aspects of emotions, their plurality, power dimensions, and their role in meaning-making. While research on the use-value of emotions remains important, the complexity of emotions requires varied analytical attention that more fully embraces social, cultural, and situated approaches.
Graminius et al. (2026) studied this question.