The interdisciplinary research cluster ‘Discourses of the Environment and Climate Change: Language, Culture and the Environmental Humanities’ (DECC) is embedded in the growing and highly topical field of the Environmental Humanities, underscoring the critical role that language, literary and cultural studies, and the broader Humanities must play in addressing the climate crisis. It was officially launched on 1 March 2026.
Its research bridges the diverse language departments within the Faculty of Arts – each representing distinct linguistic and cultural communities – while closely collaborating with a wide range of disciplines across multiple Faculties, Institutes, Centres and Schools at UM.
By integrating empirical, linguistic, literary and cultural analysis, research conducted within the cluster examines how environmental issues are framed, narrated and communicated in various contexts. This approach not only highlights how human-nature relationships are culturally constructed but also reveals how these constructions influence public understanding and policy. The cluster’s interdisciplinary nature enables dialogue between the Humanities and the Natural and Social Sciences, ensuring that academic research is interpreted and evaluated within broader societal frameworks. It interrogates the politics and ethics of dominant narratives and fosters critical reflection on alternative climate futures. At its core, the cluster aims to drive a necessary cultural transformation; one that empowers the local public discourse, informs policy, and translates academic research into real-world, sustainable practices. This is, among others, achieved through proactive community engagement, moving beyond purely academic outputs to foster a more informed and active citizenry.
DECC is governed by the following Statute [PDF]
The Research Cluster works in collaboration with the following stakeholder entities:
