Writing alongside Tobias Brosch (University of Geneva) and Edward Mishaud (UN Geneva), Sauter argues that while fear has been humanity's primary survival mechanism, hope represents our path forward for tackling long-term global challenges like climate change.

The article, titled "Fear Got Us This Far, Hope Will Take Us Further," draws on recent affective science research to demonstrate that hope is uniquely powerful among positive emotions, with studies showing its motivational effects are virtually universal across cultures. The authors distinguish between "false hope" and "constructive hope" - the latter being the collective belief in positive change paired with willingness to work toward it.

"The hope we need is the belief in a positive future, paired with the willingness to work collectively towards change," the authors write, citing civil rights movements as examples of constructive hope in action.

The piece highlights how fear-based communication strategies, while effective for immediate threats, often backfire when addressing distant challenges, leading to paralysis or emotional shutdown. Instead, the authors advocate for hope as a forward-looking emotion that helps people envision "a future worth striving for."

The International Day of Hope resolution, adopted by the UN in 2025, specifically calls on member states to recognize hope and well-being as universal goals in public policy objectives, marking a significant shift toward evidence-based emotional strategies in multilateral diplomacy.