Tune into the livestream on the SRI2021 Facebook page on September 24 from 10:30am Pacific Time (check your local time).
What is the most important factor in solving the challenge of climate change? While collaborative scientific research, smarter environmental policies, and technological innovation are all essential aspects of stabilizing our climate, their success heavily depends on our collective behaviors and motivations.
As the effects of climate change become increasingly visible around the globe – from more intense flooding to worsening heat waves and wildfires, the psychological impacts of the climate crisis are also growing in scale and severity for both individuals and communities. As these stressors compound, we risk losing the capacity to be adaptable, resilient, and effective in our research and policy-shaping efforts, at a time when we need these capacities more than ever.
But what if the messy world of emotion is key to achieving transformative change?
If we apply psychological insights to the way we communicate and design climate campaigns, we can have a greater impact on driving long-term change.
“We need to address all of our emotions about the climate crisis, not only for our mental wellbeing but also to remove roadblocks to action. If we can’t look at how climate change makes us feel—along with the dilemmas and difficult choices we face—we can’t solve it,” says Dr Renée Lertzman.
During Climate Week New York, we are hosting a Facebook Live Climate Roundtable and Q&A with experts from Project InsideOut, Plant-for-the-Planet, and the University of Buenos Aires to discuss the marriage between psychology and environmental activism.
Our speakers, who are on the frontlines of sustainability action, will explore the next evolution of environmental activism and how to build new ways to communicate about climate change. They will discuss whether climate leaders are attuned to their own message and communities, why we need to tread carefully with the ‘narrative wars’ in the climate space, and what can be accomplished if activists, sustainability researchers, and psychologists work together to turn the tide on the climate crisis.
Join Future Earth Communications Lead and moderator of this session, Jon Walton, along with psychologist and founder of Project InsideOut, Dr. Renée Lertzman, Climate Justice Ambassador from Plant for the Planet, Isaac Adabire, and Full Professor at University of Buenos Aires, Dr. Carolina Vera, for this important roundtable and Q&A.
Register today to explore the intersection of climate change, psychology, and social change.
Meet the Speakers
Dr. Renée Letzman, Psychologist and founder of Project InsideOut.
Having pioneered the bridging of psychological research and sustainability for more 20 years, Dr Lertzman gracefully marries the worlds of academia and practice. She does this by translating complex psychological and social science research insights into clear, applied and profound tools for organizations around the world seeking to engage, mobilize and connect with diverse populations, communities and individuals. Her unique and integrated approach brings together the best of the behavioral sciences, social sciences and innovative design sciences to create a powerful approach to engagement and social change.
Mr. Isaac Adabire, Climate Justice Ambassador, Plant-for-the-Planet.
Isaac has been an active member of the children’s and youth initiative Plant-for-the-Planet since 2016. As a Climate Justice Ambassador he has a goal: to save his future. Together with 88.000 children and youth from 74 countries he inspires people around the globe to plant a trillion trees. Because one trillion trees could bind 25% of man-made CO2 emissions and buy us 15 years to mitigate the climate crisis. With his commitment, Isaac encourages children, adults, governments and companies alike to take their future into their own hands and to stop talking and start planting.
Dr. Carolina Vera, Full Professor at University of Buenos Aires.
Dr. Vera is Full Professor at the School of Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and Principal Researcher of Argentina National Council of Sciences (CONICET). She has been the Director of the Argentinean-French Institute for Climate Studies and its impacts, jointly sponsored by UBA, CONICET, of Argentina and “Centre national de la recherche scientifique” (CNRS), Deputy Dean of the School of Sciences of UBA and Director of the Center for Atmosphere and Ocean Research (CIMA)/ UBA- CONICET.
Moderator
Mr. Jon Walton, Communications Lead, Future Earth.
Jon leads Communications for Future Earth, a global network of scientists, researchers, and innovators collaborating for a more sustainable planet. He strives to find common stories that drive collaboration across disciplines to help solve complex, global challenges.