--- title: Mutirão and Identity – the Social Architecture of Global Cooperation description: "Between North and South, power and vulnerability: why identity is both the hidden driver and the greatest barrier of global climate cooperation." image: https://go.climatemind.de/hubfs/54599321372_a57d4c7989_c.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://go.climatemind.de/en/blog/mutirao-identity-climate-diplomacy#main-content) [![Logo ClimateMind](https://go.climatemind.de/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo_blau.png?width=455&height=141&name=Logo_blau.png)Homepage](https://climatemind.de/) - [Start](https://climatemind.de/en/) - [Blog Overview](https://go.climatemind.de/en/blog) English Select a language ✕ - [Deutsch](https://go.climatemind.de/de/blog/mutirao-identität-klimadiplomatie) - [English](https://go.climatemind.de/en/blog/mutirao-identity-climate-diplomacy) [Get started](https://climatemind.de/en/our-services/) - [Start](https://climatemind.de/en/) - [Blog Overview](https://go.climatemind.de/en/blog) [Get started](https://climatemind.de/en/our-services/) English Select a language - [Deutsch](https://go.climatemind.de/de/blog/mutirao-identität-klimadiplomatie) - [English](https://go.climatemind.de/en/blog/mutirao-identity-climate-diplomacy) ![](https://go.climatemind.de/hs-fs/hubfs/54599321372_a57d4c7989_c.jpg?width=799&height=539&name=54599321372_a57d4c7989_c.jpg) Climate Psychology Public Sector & Policy Research Insights # Mutirão and Identity – the Social Architecture of Global Cooperation ![Janna Hoppmann](https://go.climatemind.de/hs-fs/hubfs/Janna.png?width=48&height=48&name=Janna.png) Janna Hoppmann October 29, 2025 Part 1: [Overview - Psychology of COPs](https://go.climatemind.de/en/cm-website/psychology-cops?hsLang=en) Part 2: [Trust](https://go.climatemind.de/en/blog/trust-climate-diplomacy?hsLang=en)Part 3: [Emotions](https://go.climatemind.de/en/blog/emotions-climate-diplomacy?hsLang=en) Part 4: [Psychological Safety](https://go.climatemind.de/en/blog/psy-safety-climate-diplomacy?hsLang=en) Part 5: Mutirão and IdentityPart 6: [Empathy between Worlds](https://go.climatemind.de/en/blog/empathy-climate-diplomacy?hsLang=en) Part 7: [Collective Intelligence](https://go.climatemind.de/en/blog/collective-intelligence-climate-diplomacy?hsLang=en) Part 8: [Cognitive load and heuristics](https://go.climatemind.de/en/blog/cognitive-load-climate-diplomacy?hsLang=en) Part 9: [Implementation](https://go.climatemind.de/en/blog/implementation-climate-diplomacy?hsLang=en) Anyone who has ever sat in the negotiation halls of a UN Climate Conference can feel it instantly: the invisible tension between *us* and *them*. Between the Global South and the Global North. Between small island states and major emitters. Between youth activism and state diplomacy. These dividing lines are not only political – they are **psychological**. Climate diplomacy is, at its core, a form of **identity politics**. It touches on belonging, recognition, and collective self-understanding. Collective decisions – especially those concerning the climate crisis – are always expressions of social identity. People act not only as individuals but as members of groups, nations, and alliances. These affiliations provide meaning and orientation – and they shape whom we listen to, whom we trust, and with whom we feel connected. ---   ## Why Identity Can Divide – and Also Unite Diplomacy Identity can build walls – or bridges. It becomes a barrier when it reinforces difference, fuels mistrust, and obscures what is shared. Yet it can also become the **psychological infrastructure of cooperation** when re-narrated not as opposition, but as a **collective story of action**. This is where the Brazilian concept of **“Mutirão”** offers profound insight: a spirit of community action grounded in diversity, solidarity, and shared responsibility. Social identity is the **engine of collective efficacy** – it determines whether people experience themselves as part of a movement capable of change. In a world where the climate crisis follows the fault lines of power and inequality, *Mutirão* opens a new horizon: a *we* defined not by nation or status, but by the shared conviction that transformation is only possible together.   ## Where Identity Operates Identity shapes climate diplomacy on every level – visible and invisible. It determines **who is heard, who is trusted, and whose reality counts.** Five arenas reveal its particular force: 1. Between regions and states: The long-standing North–South divide continues to shape expectations, mistrust, and power relations – as well as differing resources and self-images. 2. Within delegations and alliances: Background, age, gender, and institutional role influence who speaks – and who is listened to. 3. In facilitation and moderation: Language, gestures, and values create – or prevent – spaces of shared identity. 4. In narratives, symbols, and rituals: Stories, songs, and gestures of solidarity foster belonging beyond political texts. 5. In moments of genuine cooperation: When delegates say “*We made progress together,*” they experience *collective agency* – the psychological foundation of multilateral effectiveness.   ## Scientific Background – The Psychology of Identity and Collective Efficacy - **Social identity** describes the part of our self that stems from group membership – imbued with emotional meaning and shared norms and goals (Tajfel & Turner, 1979). When social identity becomes salient, the focus shifts from I to we – and with it, from individual to collective motivation. - **Collective efficacy** (Bandura, 2006) is the shared belief in a group’s capacity to achieve results through joint action. It counters helplessness and strengthens agency – especially in crises no single actor can solve alone. - **Collective identity** arises when people not only belong to a group but experience themselves as a community in action, united through shared experiences, emotions, and purposes. - **Narrative identity** (McAdams, 2013) highlights how the stories we tell about “who we are” and “what we stand for” give coherence and direction – shaping behavior and cooperation. In multilateral arenas such as the COPs, these psychological foundations are essential: only when delegates experience themselves as part of a shared “we” – a global *Mutirão* – can diversity become a source of collective power. ![54599169272_de3824ce62_c](https://143598369.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hub/143598369/hubfs/54599169272_de3824ce62_c.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=54599169272_de3824ce62_c.jpg) ![54599741031_6e65f88b2c_c](https://143598369.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hub/143598369/hubfs/54599741031_6e65f88b2c_c.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=54599741031_6e65f88b2c_c.jpg) ![54600054775_efd0148a5a_c](https://143598369.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hub/143598369/hubfs/54600054775_efd0148a5a_c.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=54600054775_efd0148a5a_c.jpg) ![54600392659_b384a801f0_c](https://143598369.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hub/143598369/hubfs/54600392659_b384a801f0_c.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=54600392659_b384a801f0_c.jpg) ## Observations from the Negotiation Rooms At SB62 in Bonn, identity dynamics were palpable. Among the small island states, there was a remarkable **cohesion and sense of mutual support** – particularly within the Pacific, where shared history, vulnerability, and ambition bind nations together. The spatial layout itself mirrored belonging: SIDS delegates sitting side by side, EU representatives facing them across the aisle. Identity was literally mapped into the room. The Brazilian concept of **“Mutirão,”** introduced early by the COP30 Presidency, captures this spirit of collective action rooted in Indigenous Brazilian traditions. Yet in Bonn it remained more an idea than a practice. The negotiations stayed text-focused; human encounters were rare. Stories from frontline communities found little space. Outside the formal rooms, however, something shifted. Over coffee, dinner, or a beer after long sessions, titles and roles fell away. Delegates from the Pacific and the EU – who by day could not agree on language – laughed together, exchanged stories, and spoke of home. Beyond protocol, the essence of *Mutirão* came to life: **connection through shared humanity** – solidarity not as a tactic, but as lived experience.   ## Psychological Dynamics and Pitfalls Identity is powerful – and fragile. It can connect or divide, depending on whether it functions as a bridge or a shield. In high-stakes diplomacy marked by hierarchy, history, and uncertainty, it becomes a psychological fault line. - **Intergroup thinking:** When groups see each other as adversaries, information is filtered through identity. Arguments from an *outgroup* are dismissed, regardless of quality (Fielding & Hornsey, 2016; Fritsche et al., 2018). - **Identity threat:** When political measures or narratives challenge a group’s continuity or efficacy, defensive reactions arise – from denial to disengagement (Barnett et al., 2021; Jaspal, Nerlich & Cinnirella, 2014). - **False unity:** Overstating sameness (“We’re all the same”) can mask inequalities and erode trust. Effective cooperation requires acknowledging difference – **dual identity rather than one-group identity** (Fielding & Hornsey, 2016; Rosenmann, Reese & Cameron, 2016). - Emotional dynamics: Collective emotions – pride, anger, shame, guilt – can either energize or paralyze action. Empathy, shared dignity, and joint purpose transform them into cohesion (Brosch, 2025; Van Zomeren, Postmes & Spears, 2008). - **Narrative distortion:** When identities are defined solely in opposition (“we, the affected” vs. “they, the responsible”), division deepens. Narratives of shared responsibility reopen pathways for collaboration (Brosch, 2025; Fritsche et al., 2018; Hamann et al., 2025). In short: collective identity is not a harmonious ideal but a continuous negotiation between belonging, distinctiveness, and dignity.   ## What the Research Shows Empirical studies on social identity and collective efficacy converge on a clear insight: a shared sense of “we” is the strongest psychological predictor of collective action – stronger than emotion, knowledge, or incentives. 1. **Collective efficacy:** Groups convinced of their joint capacity act with greater determination, coordination, and resilience – even under pressure (Bandura, 2006, 2018). 2. **Social identity as driver:** Meta-analyses reveal that identification with a group consistently predicts engagement and solidarity in collective climate action (Agostini & Van Zomeren, 2021; Van Zomeren, Postmes & Spears, 2008). 3. **Dual identity and justice:** Cooperation thrives when actors maintain both their specific identity and an overarching belonging – for instance, as Pacific nations and part of a global community (Fielding & Hornsey, 2016; Rosenmann, Reese & Cameron, 2016). 4. **Emotion and morality:** Collective emotions like empathy, guilt, or pride mediate between identity and action. Shared moral narratives foster responsibility rather than defensiveness (Brosch, 2025; Van Zomeren, Postmes & Spears, 2008). 5. **Experiencing shared agency:** Tangible experiences of cooperation – from AOSIS team spirit to informal alliances – strengthen trust, optimism, and long-term commitment (Bamberg, Rees & Schulte, 2018; Hamann et al., 2025). For climate diplomacy, this means: where people experience themselves as part of a shared “we,” collective agency emerges – the psychological foundation of any Mutirão culture.   ## Ways Forward – How Collective Identity and Agency Grow What does this mean in practice? How can delegations, presidencies, and facilitation teams create spaces where a shared “we” becomes tangible – where a genuine *Mutirão* can take shape? 1. Create Mutirão spaces: Dialogue formats where delegates, activists, and community representatives think and act together foster shared reality and empathy. Facilitation becomes a catalyst of collective identity. **2. Tell stories of efficacy:** Shift narratives from deficit to possibility – from “too little progress” to “acts of courage and connection.” Stories of *Mutirão* remind us that change is already underway. **3. Enable shared experiences of agency:**  Co-design projects, regional alliances, and practical collaboration cultivate *collective efficacy* – the sense that individual efforts matter within a greater whole. **4. Facilitate dual identity:** Good facilitation honors both belonging and difference. Framing cooperation as “Pacific and global,” for example, sustains trust and respect. **5. Make progress visible:** Recognize small wins and alliances. Visible success stabilizes belief in collective impact. 6. Use rituals, symbols, and joy: Shared rituals – check-ins, reflection rounds, celebrations – strengthen cohesion and emotional energy. Joy itself is a social glue for collective resilience. Collective identity cannot be decreed – but it can be designed: through spaces, language, and gestures that nurture trust and agency. ---   ## Conclusion – Mutirão as the Identity of Cooperation *Mutirão* is more than collaboration – it is a psychological paradigm of **shared responsibility and mutual empowerment**. When diplomacy ceases to be a competition of interests and becomes a **collective process of shared agency**, its inner structure transforms – from negotiation to co-creation, from mistrust to mutual accountability. A *Mutirão* COP means that delegates, communities, and institutions experience themselves as parts of one living system – not *despite* their differences, but *through* them. Seen this way, climate diplomacy becomes a practice of psychological cooperation: **people recognizing one another as allies in each other’s agency.** ### Further Reading - Agostini, M., & Van Zomeren, M. (2021). Toward a comprehensive and potentially cross-cultural model of why people engage in collective action: A quantitative research synthesis of four motivations and structural constraints. *Psychological bulletin*, *147*(7), 667. - Bamberg, S., Rees, J. H., & Schulte, M. (2018). Environmental protection through societal change: What psychology knows about collective climate action—and what it needs to find out. In *Psychology and climate change* (pp. 185-213). Academic Press. - Bandura, A. (2006). Toward a psychology of human agency. *Perspectives on psychological science, 1*(2), 164-180. - Bandura, A. (2018). Toward a psychology of human agency: Pathways and reflections. *Perspectives on psychological science, 13*(2), 130-136. - Barnett, J., Graham, S., Quinn, T., Adger, W. N., & Butler, C. (2021). Three ways social identity shapes climate change adaptation. *Environmental research letters, 16*(12), 124029. - Brosch, T. (2025). From individual to collective climate emotions and actions: a review. *Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 61*, 101466. - Fielding, K. S., & Hornsey, M. J. (2016). A social identity analysis of climate change and environmental attitudes and behaviors: Insights and opportunities. *Frontiers in psychology, 7*, 121. - Fritsche, I., Barth, M., Jugert, P., Masson, T., & Reese, G. (2018). A social identity model of pro-environmental action (SIMPEA). *Psychological review, 125*(2), 245. - Hamann, K., Junge, E., Blumenschein, P., Dasch, S., Wernke, A., & Bleh, J. (2025). *The Psychology of Collective Climate Action: Building Climate Courage*. Taylor & Francis. - Jaspal, R., Nerlich, B., & Cinnirella, M. (2014). Human responses to climate change: Social representation, identity and socio-psychological action. *Environmental Communication, 8*(1), 110-130. - Rosenmann, A., Reese, G., & Cameron, J. E. (2016). Social identities in a globalized world: Challenges and opportunities for collective action. *Perspectives on psychological science, 11*(2), 202-221. - Van Zomeren, M., Postmes, T., & Spears, R. (2008). Toward an integrative social identity model of collective action: a quantitative research synthesis of three socio-psychological perspectives. *Psychological bulletin, 134*(4), 504. ### About the Author **Janna Hoppmann** is a psychologist and Mercator Fellow for International Affairs. She has worked for many years at the intersection of psychology, climate, and politics – including with governments of SIDS states, international NGOs, and currently in close exchange with the COP30 Presidency. With **ClimateMind**, she brings psychological insights into international climate negotiations, into the work of delegations, and into transformative dialogue formats. 👉 If you would like to strengthen your delegation, alliance, or organization at COP30 or beyond – for example through trust-building, resilience training, or strategies for storytelling and collective efficacy – feel free to reach out [via email](mailto:mail@climatemind.de). Questions or thoughts? 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