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Key Dimensions of Language and Terminology: Political Ecological Translations

Ailin Nacucchio, Sophie Lamulle-Kerbastard, Karima Mahtout and Albin Wagener presented stories from their diverse research, related to the political uses of ecological transition and the language that is and is not used in ecological transition.

In her research in Latin America, Nacucchio observes the differences in the language used to describe sustainable development by leaders when speaking to people at home compared to international fora. She discusses the variability in behaviours between left and right wing political leaders, but this is eclipsed by the more generalized pattern of caution in presenting an ecological transition message to their electorate, in contrast with the positions they are prepared to take on the global stage.

Lamulle-Kerbastard observes trends in the political terminology referring to sustainable development in France, with the rise and fall of the language of green growth or ‘’croissance verte’’ beginning in 2021, and the continued rise of the language of transition. She further interrogates the role for nuclear energy in the ecological transition agenda in France, and finds that although nuclear was once on a path to sunsetting, it has now re-emerged as part of the renewable energy transition.

Mahtout defended a non-universalist conception of sustainable development. Examing the language and political agenda for sustainable development across French, English and Arabic, Mahtout notes that some concepts considered political keys to the transition, notably the concept of inclusion, does not have a correlate in Arabic . By refuting the universalist stance, work in favour of sustainable development can emerge from the daily practices of local populations and cultures in context.

Wagener discussed his research projet DAREC-TES3C, which consists of a discourse analysis of 559 memorable stories about socio-ecological transition and climate crisis. The analysis classifies the stories according to their setting in the landscape (urban, rural, mixed), their thematic focus (mobility, food, biodiversity, social connections), and their discursive role. The research pursues an ecology of discourse, seeking an understanding of how the ecological transition can be rendered intelligible, desirable or acceptable and what key instruments are needed to advance the transition.