Report

Climate Crisis and the Human Factor: 10 Psychological Keys to Unlocking Climate Action. Opinion paper of the EFPA’s Expert Reference Group for Psychology and Climate Change

Author(s) / Creator(s)

EFPA’s Expert Reference Group for Psychology and Climate Change

Editor(s)

Kałwak, Weronika
Ekelund, Bjørn
Gale, Nicola
Peter, Felix
Wortelboer, Sara

Other kind(s) of contributor

Ágoston-Kostyál, Csilla
Alderhorn, Eric
Carr, Nicholas
Ekelund, Bjørn
Gale, Nicola
Kałwak, Weronika
Pereira, Tiago
Peter, Felix
Varga, Attila
Wortelboer, Sara

Abstract / Description

Anthropogenic global climate change and its disruptive impact on ecosystems and communities around the world are subjects of widespread scientific consensus. The European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA) has made climate change one of its priorities. In this opinion paper, the EFPA Expert Reference Group for Psychology and Climate Change addresses what they consider to be the ten most important issues in the field of psychology and climate change, highlighting the role of psychology in mitigating and adapting to the climate crisis. The socio-ecological model is presented as an approach effectively encompassing various determinants of pro-environmental behavior, engagement in climate action, and climate change-related mental health at the individual, social, organizational, and systemic levels. Sustainability serves as the general framework for understanding the role of psychology. While sustainable transformation is necessary, it may be challenging due to psychological and systemic barriers. These barriers can be overcome through collective actions and building collective efficacy. Diverse emotions play an important role in shaping individual and collective behaviors related to climate change; they contribute to both resilience and the deterioration of mental health at the individual and community levels. In addition to internal mental processes, institutional, organizational and social mechanisms foster sustainable practices. Institutional, organizational, and societal mechanisms, alongside internal psychological processes, foster sustainable practices. Psychological research on these mechanisms and processes should inform strategies at the level of policy-making and environmental communication that are critical to shaping public perception and behavior. A unified approach to psychological research and practice across individual, societal, organizational, and systemic levels is needed for a resilient response to climate and associated societal challenges.

Keyword(s)

climate change climate crisis climate action climate resilience pro-environmental behavior mental health well-being

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2024-05-31

Publisher

European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations EFPA AISBL

Citation

  • 2024_Climate-Crisis-and-the-Human-Factor_10-Psychological-Keys.pdf
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    Description: Climate Crisis and the Human Factor: 10 Psychological Keys to Unlocking Climate Action - Opinion paper of the EFPA’s Expert Reference Group for Psychology and Climate Change
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    EFPA’s Expert Reference Group for Psychology and Climate Change
  • Editor(s)
    Kałwak, Weronika
  • Editor(s)
    Ekelund, Bjørn
  • Editor(s)
    Gale, Nicola
  • Editor(s)
    Peter, Felix
  • Editor(s)
    Wortelboer, Sara
  • Other kind(s) of contributor
    Ágoston-Kostyál, Csilla
  • Other kind(s) of contributor
    Alderhorn, Eric
  • Other kind(s) of contributor
    Carr, Nicholas
  • Other kind(s) of contributor
    Ekelund, Bjørn
  • Other kind(s) of contributor
    Gale, Nicola
  • Other kind(s) of contributor
    Kałwak, Weronika
  • Other kind(s) of contributor
    Pereira, Tiago
  • Other kind(s) of contributor
    Peter, Felix
  • Other kind(s) of contributor
    Varga, Attila
  • Other kind(s) of contributor
    Wortelboer, Sara
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2024-07-01T11:16:05Z
  • Made available on
    2024-07-01T11:16:05Z
  • Date of first publication
    2024-05-31
  • Abstract / Description
    Anthropogenic global climate change and its disruptive impact on ecosystems and communities around the world are subjects of widespread scientific consensus. The European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA) has made climate change one of its priorities. In this opinion paper, the EFPA Expert Reference Group for Psychology and Climate Change addresses what they consider to be the ten most important issues in the field of psychology and climate change, highlighting the role of psychology in mitigating and adapting to the climate crisis. The socio-ecological model is presented as an approach effectively encompassing various determinants of pro-environmental behavior, engagement in climate action, and climate change-related mental health at the individual, social, organizational, and systemic levels. Sustainability serves as the general framework for understanding the role of psychology. While sustainable transformation is necessary, it may be challenging due to psychological and systemic barriers. These barriers can be overcome through collective actions and building collective efficacy. Diverse emotions play an important role in shaping individual and collective behaviors related to climate change; they contribute to both resilience and the deterioration of mental health at the individual and community levels. In addition to internal mental processes, institutional, organizational and social mechanisms foster sustainable practices. Institutional, organizational, and societal mechanisms, alongside internal psychological processes, foster sustainable practices. Psychological research on these mechanisms and processes should inform strategies at the level of policy-making and environmental communication that are critical to shaping public perception and behavior. A unified approach to psychological research and practice across individual, societal, organizational, and systemic levels is needed for a resilient response to climate and associated societal challenges.
    en
  • Review status
    reviewed
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/10464
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.15026
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations EFPA AISBL
  • Keyword(s)
    climate change
  • Keyword(s)
    climate crisis
  • Keyword(s)
    climate action
  • Keyword(s)
    climate resilience
  • Keyword(s)
    pro-environmental behavior
  • Keyword(s)
    mental health
  • Keyword(s)
    well-being
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Climate Crisis and the Human Factor: 10 Psychological Keys to Unlocking Climate Action. Opinion paper of the EFPA’s Expert Reference Group for Psychology and Climate Change
    en
  • DRO type
    report
  • Visible tag(s)
    climate change
  • Visible tag(s)
    climate crisis
  • Visible tag(s)
    climate action
  • Visible tag(s)
    climate resilience
  • Visible tag(s)
    pro-environmental behavior
  • Visible tag(s)
    mental health
  • Visible tag(s)
    well-being