Press Release: Emotions Play Crucial Role in Climate Action, New Research Reveals
Recent research highlights the profound impact of emotions on climate change decisions, revealing that feelings of anger, guilt, and sadness significantly influence individual actions. A collaboration between the M. Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology explored these emotional responses, uncovering how they affect climate decision-making.
As climate change affects every region globally, it has instilled a sense of loss reminiscent of grief, termed "solastalgia"—a feeling of mourning for one’s environment. Dominika Zaremba, a psychologist from the Nencki Institute, noted that individuals, especially older generations, often reflect on the changing landscape, expressing nostalgia for the winters of their youth and lamenting the loss of experiences for future generations.
The study developed the Climate Emotion Inventory, identifying eight key emotions related to climate change, including anger, helplessness, and loneliness. These emotions vary in their effectiveness to motivate pro-climate behavior. Findings indicated that while short-term feelings act as initial sparks of interest, sustained emotional engagement—particularly anger and compassion—over time leads to more concrete pro-environmental actions.
Further investigations involving participants from Poland and Norway revealed no significant link between short-term emotional responses and immediate climate action. However, long-term emotional investments, particularly those associated with reflecting on personal stories, correlated with a greater willingness to support climate initiatives financially.
Zaremba emphasized the necessity of combining emotion with community action to combat feelings of isolation, stating, “When we act together, whole systems can change." This research underscores the importance of emotional awareness in fostering collective climate action, urging communities to harness emotions effectively to drive meaningful change in the face of climate challenges.
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