Place Attachment and Emotions in Decision-Making: Wind Energy in La Guajira, Colombia

How do emotions and place attachment influence sustainable development? We address this question through a longitudinal study of wind energy projects within Indigenous territories in La Guajira, Colombia (2019–2023). Our theoretical framework integrates the concept of place attachment, particularly its emotional dimensions, with decision-making processes concerning sustainable development. Our key contribution lies in developing a model to discuss the ontological and emotional roots of place attachment of actors from Indigenous communities, governments, and businesses. We posit that Indigenous communities have an experiential perspective of place, with deep and evolving connections to their ancestral territories that mold their aspirations for their territory’s future. In contrast, businesses and governments have a functional perspective of place, viewing it primarily as a geographical location for implementing technological solutions for climate change mitigation. These diverging perspectives on place and space result in colliding emotions. The multifaceted emotional bonds that individuals or communities form with specific places instill a profound sense of belonging and identity, whereas firms’ operations in such settings often involve superficial engagement through corporate social responsibility activities. Our findings provide insight into the intricate interplay between emotional attachment, space and place, and sustainable development. We argue that technological solutions are insufficient without societal acceptance, highlighting the importance of emotional bonds in the context of sustainable development.