Description
This paper examines how environmentally engaged scientists negotiate their identities and ethical commitments in response to the climate crisis, drawing on survey and interview data from environmentally concerned scientists globally. As the crisis escalates, some scientists move beyond traditional roles to take visible action, contributing to an emerging “scientist-activist” identity. However, this shift raises challenges, particularly around balancing scientific objectivity and impartiality with advocacy.
Quantitative findings revealed that managing the inter-identity fit between science and activism significantly impacts levels of environmental engagement. Additionally, scientists who perceived a conflict between their scientific identity and activism more frequently endorsed techno-solutionism as an alternative. Qualitative analysis further highlights that some scientists aligned advocacy with their scientific identity, viewing it as a moral duty and using values of objectivity to argue for scientist-activism. However, others expressed concerns that visible advocacy could compromise objectivity, potentially undermining public trust in science.
These findings underscore how values, identity, and ethical considerations shape scientists’ roles in climate advocacy, offering a nuanced understanding of pro-environmental behaviour. Given the scale of the challenges posed by the climate crisis and scientists’ potential to drive change, understanding this diverse group’s motivations and ethical perspectives is vital.
