Psychology & Climate Change Policy Conference

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007), a group of leading international climate and policy scientists, has recently concluded that climate change is happening and human actions are making a significant contribution to this change. We probably have less than 15 years to make major changes in our greenhouse gas emissions worldwide if dangerous impacts later this century are to be forestalled. The influential Stern Report (2006), commissioned by the UK Treasury, concluded that the future costs of inaction with regards to climate change will actually be far greater than the costs of taking immediate action.

For the majority of the scientific community and those in government, climate change is no longer a contested issue; what is contested is what we do about it. Governments now recognise that climate change and its consequences need to be addressed by changing people’s behaviour and everyday practices; technological fix alone will not be enough. However, there are already signs of ‘climate fatigue’. A recent report by the IPPR (2009) suggests that some people are now bored by the subject of climate change and express a cynicism about the motivations of government in encouraging action on climate change.

Psychology has a key role to play in the formulation of mitigation and adaptation strategies which take account of the human responses. Failure to do so will mean that climate policies are less effective than anticipated or at worse might fail entirely. Policies also have to be effectively communicated and turned into actions if we are to arrest and even reverse current climate projections. This one-day conference brought together psychologists, government policy-makers and others who are playing key roles in trying to encourage more sustainable lifestyles.

Printed on the day programme

Introduction given by Professor David Uzzell on the day
Introduction

Presentations from the day:

How Psychology Can Contribute to Meeting the Challenges of Climate Change, Professor Paul C. Stern, US National Research Council
Professor Paul C. Stern

RESOLVE
Research of Lifestyles, Values and the Environment
Dr Birgitta Gatersleben, University of Surrey & Professor David Uzzell, University of Surrey & British Psychological Society Climate Change Working Party
Dr Birgitta Gatersleben & Professor David Uzzell

Public Perceptions of Climate Change and Energy Futures in Britain, Professor Nick Pidgeon, University of Cardiff and British Psychological Society Climate Change Working Party
Professor Nick Pidgeon

Beyond Nimbyism: Public engagement with renewable energy technologies, Professor Patrick Devine-Wright, University of Exeter
Professor Patrick Devine-Wright

Transcripts will also be available shortly and will be posted here

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