Think Different

This week is the 50th anniversary of Apollo 8, which was the first NASA mission to orbit the moon.  It also produced the photograph above, called “Earthrise,” which revolutionized the way many people think about our planet. Thus, it seems like an appropriate time to discuss the interaction between climate change and behavioral science.

Climate change is difficult to counteract on both a political and personal level.

We have seen, for a variety of reasons, that most governments lack the political will to take the drastic action required to stave off the worst effects of our warming planet.  But even at a personal level, many of us don’t act in ways that are congruent with our beliefs.  I am worried about out changing our climate, but I still drive a lot, waste too much food, and generally squander more resources than I should.  I worry about the planet, but I don’t do much about it.

This article from BehavioralScientist.org discusses ways to spur people like me into action. Negative messaging generally doesn’t work – it just makes people feel hopeless or defensive. However, positive messages that tap into the emotion of pride can make a difference.

 When we see our country as old and mature, when we are prompted to think about our personal legacy, and when we hear less politicized language (e.g. “carbon offset” vs. “carbon tax”) – these things all can promote climate-friendly choices.