How an ecosystem of stories can play a role in the transition to a low carbon future

Stories are considered to be one of the earliest forms of human communication. Indeed, they play an important cultural role, helping create shared beliefs, purposes and norms throughout human history [1]. Given the current challenge of climate change, and broader questions of energy systems and environmental collapse, we might (re)consider what stories we hold onto, and what we believe the future will hold. Although the narrativei of economic growth is still alive and well, this business as usual perspective does not support the societal changes we need. Some are calling for new stories, or re-centring marginalised stories which foster alterative visions of the future [2], [3]. This paper sees stories as an ecosystem and explores whether and how the dominant narrative might be challenged by stories and visions arising in response to climate change and COVID-19.