The problem with ignoring people's emotions about climate change

About 20 years ago, while presenting the science of climate change to a large public group, I stopped in the middle of my talk. Up until this time, my presentations had been filled with 50 minutes of scientific information. However, during my graduate work in psychology, I had become more attuned to the importance of affect in how we engage with our environment.

Edvard Munch’s iconic ‘The Scream’ captures how
some might feel upon hearing about climate change risks. 

By psychological “affect,” I’m talking here about how we as humans respond – how our feelings and emotions respond – to various stimuli, in this case learning about the risks we face in a warming climate.

So I decided to change how I was presenting the material. I asked the audience how they were feeling after listening to what I had just said. What followed dramatically changed the way I’ve since worked with communicating climate change. There was complete silence in the very large auditorium, and then a woman way in the back of the room slowly raised her hand and said, “I feel completely helpless!”

Read the story from Yale Climate Connections by Jeffery T. Kiehl - “The problem with ignoring people's emotions about climate change.”

Nakits's 'Zero Waste' push in Shepparton

The woman behind an initiative aimed at reducing the region’s waste output believes it could potentially ease the strain of the Chinese recycle ban.

Nakita Thomson - she wants
"Zero waste" in Shepparton.

Shepparton psychology student Nakita Thomson, who is based in Bendigo, began a Zero Waste Community Facebook group last week, aimed at raising community awareness about the issue.

The digital group shares inspiration and tactics behind the reduction of waste and recycling output, and has encouraged businesses to share which of their products are zerowaste friendly.

The group has earned almost 100 supporters, including Shepparton councillor Fern Summer, RiverConnect and the Beneath the Wisteria group.

Ms Thomson said she first hopped onto the movement six months ago, but decided to start something in Shepparton as one solution to China’s recent Australian waste ban.

‘‘I can see Shepparton being really affected by this, there’s uncertainty around recyclables, so all of that will be in the ground, which is really bad,’’ Ms Thomson said.

‘‘I see this as an opportunity for the community to take things into their own hands, to deal with the waste problem, and I think it could potentially mean more jobs for people.’’

Recent changes in world export markets mean Visy has temporarily stopped accepting recyclable materials from the kerbside collection company, hitting many councils across Victoria.

The ban has the potential to leave reusable rubbish with no place to go.

Homemade lipstick using beetroot.

The council has said it was working to identify alternative arrangements for recyclable material processing, but a spokesperson said there had been no solution from the state government to date.

City of Greater Shepparton councillor Fern Summer said Ms Thomson’s initiative was proactive.

Cr Summer said it was up to the state government to provide a financial solution, as current recycling arrangements were hazardous and environmentally irresponsible.

‘‘We’re so consumptive as a generation, we don’t think about what we buy and where it goes after we finish using it, so this could be a great wake-up call,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s more important than ever for individuals to be mindful, we can’t rely on overseas markets anymore, we can’t bury recyclables in a hole forever, we need to find ways to be less wasteful or we’ll ruin our environment.’’

Story by Rhiannon Tuffield from today’s Shepparton News - “Waste not, want not.”

Conference to focus on psychology and climate

Psychology for
 a safe climate.
 

A group of psychologists and caring professionals are working together to help the community psychologically understand climate change and encourage strong and urgent action on the dilemma.

The Melbourne-based group has set up “Psychology for a Safe Climate” and has its 2013 conference on October 12 and 13.

In organizing the conference the group asked: “How can psychology and the social sciences help us face the reality of climate change?”

“How can we understand and move beyond the current stalemate, - indeed the current apathy – towards the reality of climate change. How can we foster collective engagement to urgently and effectively tackle climate change?” it asks.

The conference will bring together researchers, practitioners and writers in psychology and the social science to examine the prevailing dynamics of climate change.
Details of the event are available from the group’s website: http://www.psychologyforasafeclimate.org/