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https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2025.1.03Keywords:
narratives, climate action, water heritage, climate justice, sustainability transitionsAbstract
Sustainability transitions offer opportunities to rethink and improve society, such as by improving well-being, reducing inequalities and reconnecting with nature. Yet, mainstream political narratives focus on the short-term costs of sustainability transitions and fail to highlight environmental measures that consider people’s social and cultural realities. This article discusses the shortcomings of current narratives of sustainability transitions in France and explores alternative approaches. Drawing on water heritage and local values can help shape narratives that resonate with people in their context, and allow them to take a long-term view. The lake and city of Annecy is an interesting example of how water heritage and local values can be used to shape appealing narratives in support of sustainability transitions.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Maëlle Salzinger
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