We need to talk about the psychology of climate change.
Climate change is an overwhelming global existential crisis. The scale of the issue often paralyzes people into both denying what is happening - either through outright denial or inaction/unwillingness to make changes – and being overcome with nihilism and anxiety about an impending doom – which also leads to inaction. At times, I have felt this nihilism – a feeling of ‘things are so bad, why try’ but the pendulum tends to swing back to a ‘we have to die trying’ mentality. The psychology of such a crisis needs unpacking. We need to understand ourselves and others in this way. Clarity and acknowledgment of the psychological implications are critical for wise and thoughtful decisions to be made on action and to have empathetic approaches that address those paralyzed by fear and anxiety.
We need to:
(1) accept that climate change has a direct impact on our mental health. These uncomfortable feelings that may come from such a devastating crisis need to be acknowledged and explored. In addition, with more and more climate change related events happening, more people are directly affected, resulting in mental health issues from the loss of livelihoods. We need to talk about this! Climate change is frightening, daunting, and psychologically, and at times scientifically, difficult to comprehend.
(2) be honest and accepting of our reality. The truth is that we are on the verge of climate catastrophe. Global temperature rise, warming oceans, shrinking ice sheets, glacial retreat, decreased snow cover, sea level rise, declining arctic ice, extreme weather events – it is all happening now. We need realism and optimism. Let’s try to solve this crisis while recognizing our truth - that these are perilous times.
(3) stop shaming or guilting people into action. Instead create spaces for open dialogue and accept that change comes slower for some. We need to be empathetic and compassionate about the anxiety of others. It is also perfectly healthy to take a step back ourselves and reflect when such feelings arise.
A fundamental aspect of climate denial or inaction is the generation of cognitive dissonance – whereby people have a mental discomfort due to two opposing beliefs, values, or ideas – when these beliefs are inconsistent, people try to eliminate this disparity either by justifying or denying facts, OR by changing behavior. We have an exciting opportunity to sync our actions with the facts of climate change! While sometimes lifestyle changes feel untenable, it is empowering when we see our daily choices align with the larger understanding of climate science. Try it!