Climate Psychology
Climate psychology is a field which aims to further our understanding of the psychological processes (like denial, dismissal, apathy, existential fear, existential denial or hopelessness) that occur in people and societies in response to human induced climate change and its impacts. It is not a place to debate climate science as it accepts the science of the climate which equates to a serious existential threat to life on this planet. To enact the extent of change required for survival, our actions/inaction, attitudes and sense of urgency need to match the problem; in our homes, workplaces, our communities, local government/cities etc, in our regions, industries, government and institutions. Governments, central and local, will need intelligent conversations on how to motivate change, how to lead it, how to support it.
These links and articles can help you think about your own experience of the reality of the climate crisis, and how you can best influence change in yourself and the people around you, whether it be familial, workplace, your local council or government. It is my hope that we can work together for a liveable climate and for the complex issues which have created this situation to be addressed and resolved as it is in the best interests of us all. Wouldn’t that be good!
Resources for further reading and engagement with the climate crisis and our responses, action or inaction with the problem.
- https://www.psychology.org.nz/public/climate-change
- A podcast with Sally Weintrobe, psychoanalyst and author of the book The Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis.
For ethical discussions on the climate crisis and ethics from a psyhcological perspective try this book by Donna Orange: Climate Crisis, Psychoanalysis and Radical Ethics.
The spin-off wrote a good article dated 7/2/23. In the article they refer to a newsletter which looked useful to me called Generation Dread – and you can read about that here.
For help with climate anxiety and climate crisis related resources, try the Climate Psychology Alliance website.
Young adults might find this substack useful, its called Generation Dread and I recommend checking it out. It can help to know we are not alone with our dread and fear, and I have found some insightful ways of looking at climate related themes.
This article has some helpful information too for how to work with our climate anxiety by Dr Jackie Feather