Confronting the climate crisis

The last five years have been the warmest ever recorded, according to NASA data. Antarctica and the Arctic are losing billions of tons of ice every year, and coastlines are being swallowed by rising seas. Bigger storms and intense rains are becoming the norm in the United States and around the world. And in August, a special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that global warming is putting unprecedented pressure on the world’s food supply (Climate Change and Land,opens in new window IPCC, 2019).

Amid these changes, it’s become clear that climate change is a subject that touches on economics, politics, the food we eat, the way we live, the health of Earth’s habitats and, increasingly, our mental health and well-being.

A global issue of this magnitude requires an interdisciplinary response. And psychologists have an important seat at that table. "At its heart, climate change is a human problem. Humans caused it, and humans have to be the solution," says Reuven Sussman, PhD, a research psychologist at the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. "The knowledge of why humans act the way they do, and how to change human behavior, is critical to making progress on climate issues."

Across the field, psychologists are bringing their skills to bear on the climate crisis. Research psychologists explore how people think about climate change, how and why they choose climate-friendly behaviors and the factors that make individuals and communities resilient in the face of a changing planet. Applied scientists design behavior change interventions and help craft pro-environmental messages that will resonate with audiences. Clinicians respond to the emotional impacts of climate change, including trauma from natural disasters and climate-related stress and anxiety. Educators are training the next generation of behavioral scientists and climate activists.

And many of these psychologists are also sharing their work with policymakers and organizations to help them map evidence-based pathways to action.

"Climate change is an issue at the interface of social, environmental, clinical and developmental psychology, and beyond," says Ezra Markowitz, PhD, an associate professor in the department of environmental conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and president of APA’s Div. 34 (Society for Environmental, Population and Conservation Psychology). "For the rest of this century, we’re going to be figuring out how to build and support resilient communities—and if psychologists aren’t involved, it’s not going to work."

Encouraging green behaviors

One way to begin to address climate change is to encourage people to adopt more earth-friendly behaviors—an area that psychologists have studied for decades. As that research has shown, embracing more sustainable behaviors, like energy conservation, can be difficult for people because we are predisposed to focus on short-term benefits, even if they come with long-term costs, says Elke Weber, PhD, a professor of psychology at Princeton University whose research includes work on environmental decision-making (Social Researchopens in new window, Vol. 82, No. 3, 2015). Even if you’re concerned about greenhouse gas emissions, it’s so much easier to drive to work on a cold, dark morning than to hop on your bike.

Bank of electricity meters

Still, researchers are making progress toward understanding how people think about climate change and what influences them to choose greener behaviors. Social norms, they’ve discovered, have a lot of influence. Researchers have shown, for instance, that providing consumers with information about their own energy consumption, and that of their neighbors, can spur them to reduce their energy use. In a meta-analysis, Beth Karlin, PhD, a social psychologist and founder of the See Change Institute, and colleagues found that across 42 studies spanning three decades, providing energy feedback was an effective strategy for reducing energy use. However, factors such as how the feedback is provided, how often it is provided, and the level of detail it includes make a difference in energy savings (Psychological Bulletinopens in new window, Vol. 141, No. 6, 2015).

Millions of Americans now receive so-called green energy "nudges" in their utility bills. But as the field of environmental psychology has matured, researchers have begun taking a more nuanced look at such programs. In an experimental study, David Hagmann, PhD, at Carnegie Mellon University, and colleagues found that when people receive green energy nudges, they are less supportive of carbon taxes—­possibly because they believe that they can address climate change through the small, low-cost behaviors involved in the nudges rather than through big, expensive policies. But the researchers also found evidence that they could prevent that unanticipated effect of nudges if they informed consumers that nudges aren’t a substitute for more substantial policies (Nature Climate Changeopens in new window, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2019).

Such findings underscore the importance of drawing on psychological research to design behavior change programs that achieve the desired effects, says Markowitz. "There’s a healthy dose of caution when it comes to behavioral nudges, and people are being careful both on the research side and the applications side to identify the benefits and potential unexpected side effects of using these types of tools."

Climate conversations

Psychologists are also exploring ways to more effectively communicate information about the causes of—and potential solutions for—climate change. Beliefs about climate change range from alarm to denial, and there’s much to learn about the best ways to share information with various audiences who fall along that spectrum.

Sander van der Linden, PhD, assistant professor of social psychology at the University of Cambridge and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Environmental Psychology, and colleagues from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication proposed key principles drawn from psychological science that policymakers can use to improve public engagement with climate change. Those best practices include emphasizing personal and local experiences rather than facts and statistics; leveraging relevant social norms; emphasizing the present and making climate change solutions locally relevant; framing policy solutions in terms of their short-term benefits; and appealing to intrinsic values, such as leaving a better planet for future generations (Perspectives on Psychological Scienceopens in new window, Vol. 10, No. 6, 2015).

Most of the research on communication about climate change has taken a top-down approach, focusing on the messages that organizations, businesses or governments can use to influence people’s behavior, Markowitz says. But that’s shifting. "Recently, there’s been a growing recognition of the role that individuals can play in shaping how people in their social networks think about climate change," he says. "The big question is, can we effectively leverage the power of social influence to promote adaptive behaviors?"

Van der Linden and colleagues found that when their friends and family members care about climate change, people are more likely to believe in climate change and to support pro-climate policies. That pattern was especially true among conservatives in the United States, who are generally less likely than liberals to accept that human activity is the cause of climate change (Goldberg, M.H., et al., Environment and Behavioropens in new window, 2019). In another study, the research team found that when people discussed climate change more often with friends and family, they were more likely to agree with scientific assessments of climate change over time, which encouraged further discussion—and inspired greater concern (Goldberg, M.H., et al., PNASopens in new window, Vol. 116, No. 30, 2019). "This highlights the importance of having conversations about climate change with people in your social network," van der Linden says.

Getting practical

Like many psychologists who study climate change, van der Linden says his research has become more translational over time. "Over the years I’ve come to realize how practical our research needs to get [for policy­makers to make use of it], and in response I’ve shifted toward testing our research in the real world," he says.

For example, he and graduate student Jon Roozenbeek and colleagues developed an online game to immunize people against disinformation and anti-science campaigns—such as the idea that greenhouse gas emissions are not responsible for our changing climate. They found that the game helped people resist falling for fake news (Palgrave Communicationsopens in new window, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2019; Global Challengesopens in new window, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2017). Now, working with the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, van der Linden’s team is translating the game into 13 other languages to promote science literacy among citizens. As people play, the platform collects data from users who give their consent so the researchers can continue to study science communication on a bigger, cross-cultural scale.

It’s not unusual for researchers who study climate change to become more involved in translational and applied roles the longer they work in this field, Karlin says. "With climate change, there is a sense of urgency and a sense we have to work together."

Karlin works with government, private and nonprofit partners to design, test and deploy sustainability initiatives, many of which focus on energy efficiency. In one project, for example, she worked with the Demand Side Management Program of the International Energy Agency to conduct a review of evaluation methods for behavior-based interventions, provide trainings to energy utility managers across North America and evaluate an energy kit program run through local libraries in Ireland. Next, they plan to continue to study energy-related behavior change among hard-to-reach customers such as low-income families, small businesses and non-native speakers of the local language.

Other researchers are applying their efforts close to home. Many colleges and universities are working to create sustainable campuses, and psychologists are among the faculty members spearheading those initiatives. For instance, Elise Amel, PhD, a professor of industrial-organizational psychology and conservation psychology at the University of St. Thomas, has teamed with the administration to develop a culture of sustainability at the institution over the last decade. Their goal is to become carbon-neutral by 2035, through initiatives to tie sustainability into curricula and efforts by the dining system and facilities management to cut their carbon footprints. It’s a model that other academics could follow in their own institutions, Amel says. As sources of innovation and knowledge, universities are great targets for climate action. "We need to change the systems that drive our behavior, and universities have a long history as part of a social system," she says. "They can be drivers of sustainability."

Adapting to change

Psychologists play an important role in understanding perception, motivation and decision-making related to mitigating climate change. Equally critical is the flip side of the coin: How can psychologists help people adapt and thrive in a world that is shifting under their feet?

Climate change is already affecting mental health and well-being in myriad ways, as described in a recent report from APA and ecoAmerica (Clayton, S., et al., Mental Health and Our Changing Climateopens in new window, 2017). Acute events related to climate change, such as damaging storms and droughts, are associated with anxiety, depression, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychologists can help patients manage those impacts—or even prevent them, says Annette La Greca, PhD, ABPP, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Miami who studies risk and resilience to hurricanes. "Psychologists could use their skills to do things like teaching coping skills and stress management to adults and children in communities affected by climate change—both before and after challenging events occur," she says.

Extreme events like hurricanes, droughts and wildfires capture a lot of attention, but mental health effects may also emerge more gradually as a result of changes such as forced migrations, weakened infrastructure and insecurity of the world’s food systems. People in high-risk geographic locations and those from marginalized populations are likely to be more vulnerable. Children, too, are at risk from the stress of climate impacts, which has been shown to affect behavior, development, decision-making and academic achievement. The more the climate changes, the more people’s mental health may suffer.

Aerial view of flooded neighborhood

Clinicians are already seeing those effects, says Thomas Doherty, PsyD, a clinical and environmental psychologist in Portland, Oregon. In his clinical practice, he’s counseled patients wrestling with anxiety about the changing world, such as a longtime environmental activist struggling with climate-related despair. But even people who don’t give much thought to climate change can experience stress and anxiety related to the changing landscapes around them. "People are impacted by climate change whether they believe in the concept of climate change or not," he says. "Anxiety about global issues does come up in clinical practice—particularly if you ask—and you don’t need to be a climate expert to help people acknowledge and cope with that."

While there’s a role for clini­cians in this area, there’s also a need for continued research to better understand how people and communities can thrive in the face of climate change, says Susan Clayton, PhD, a professor of psychology and environmental studies at The College of Wooster in Ohio. "The climate has changed and will continue to change, and we have to focus on adaptation and resilience." She has explored whether climate scientists might be at greater risk of mental health problems as a result of facing this difficult truth each day. While she has found some anecdotal evidence of such distress, it was not universal. Many climate scientists reported feeling hope, determination and a sense of privilege to be working in such a critical field, she found. Focusing on such positive emotions may help them maintain resilience to environmental threats (Nature Climate Changeopens in new window, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2018).

Christie Manning, PhD, an assistant professor of environmental studies and psychology at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, is also exploring resilience to climate threats. In one project, she’s studying how the mental health impacts of climate change vary depending on a person’s background, community, access to resources and history of marginalization. Previous work has shown that people from marginalized and resource-poor populations may be at greater risk of harms from climate change, and more work is needed to understand the risks and resilience in those populations, she says. "We need to look at this through the lens of ‘environmental justice.’"

Other psychologists working on climate issues are focusing on systems-level adaptation. Slowing the runaway climate train will require a shift in thinking about human choices that have an outsize effect on the climate, such as our food, transportation and energy systems, says John Fraser, PhD, AIA, a conservation psychologist, architect, and president and CEO of the social science think tank Knology. In his work, he collaborates with organizations, governments and businesses to create structural changes for sustainability. In one project, for instance, he’s facilitating meetings for an alliance of more than 100 stakeholder groups along New York City’s waterfront to develop a resilience strategy around sea-level rise. "We have to get beyond the individual to think about systemic organizational change," he says.

Improving lives with psychology

Psychologists are also making efforts to show policymakers how climate change is affecting mental health and well-being. La Greca, for instance, was a co-author of a report on the mental health impacts of climate change for the U.S. Global Change Research Program (The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessmentopens in new window, 2016). In 2014, Weber authored a report on behavior change for the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5)—the first time a psychologist had been involved as a lead author (AR5 Climate Change 2014opens in new window, IPCC). The sixth assessment, now being drafted, will include expertise from several psychologists, including Clayton.

Other psychologists are advocating through work on the boards of sustainability organizations, in meetings with legislators and through grassroots events such as marches and demonstrations. "Many academics, including psychologists, show up for these things," says Manning, a board member of the nonprofit organization Climate Generation. "We are on the front lines of this data. We see what is happening out there, and we understand that we have to do something."

When it comes to making an impact on climate issues, Manning says, academics shouldn’t underestimate the influence they can have with their students. "I see students who feel a sense of urgency but see a lack of political will for the transformative change that we need to address this problem. They feel disempowered," she says. "One of the most important things I do is to empower the college students I work with to take action out in the world and raise their voices for what they believe in."

You don’t have to be a climate expert to make a difference, Doherty says. While he sometimes addresses climate anxiety in his clinical practice, much of his climate-related work exists outside his day job. He has shared his climate insights with newspaper and magazine reporters, contributed to a podcast, spoken with book authors and counseled many students interested in learning how to integrate their environmental concerns with their psychology careers.

Psychologists of every stripe have something to offer to this effort, says Markowitz. "The fact is, climate change is the context within which we’ll be making all of our future decisions as individuals, as a society and as a field. There’s no way for psychologists to not be working in that context," he says. "In one way or another, psychologists across every subdiscipline have something they can contribute to improving people’s lives in this changed world."

Psychologists apply their expertise to climate change from many different angles:

• Researchers study environmental behavior change and resilience to climate change impacts.
• Applied researchers develop behavior-change interventions and methods to communicate effectively about climate science.
• Clinicians support people affected by extreme weather events and help others manage chronic stress related to a changing environment.
• Educators train the next generation of behavioral scientists and climate activists.
• Advocates work with sustainability organizations and inform policymakers about the psychology of climate-related behaviors and the psychological impacts of climate change.

Psychology and Climate Change: Human Perceptions, Impacts, and Responsesopens in new window
Clayton, S., & Manning, C. (Eds.) Academic Press 2018

Perception Matters: The Pitfalls of Misperceiving Psychological Barriers to Climate Policyopens in new window
Weber, E.U. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2018

Reassessing Emotion in Climate Change Communicationopens in new window
Chapman, D.A., et al. Nature Climate Change, 2017

Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Impacts, Implications, and Guidanceopens in new window|
Clayton, S., et al. APA and ecoAmerica, 2017