Combating the climate crisis with cognitive science

Author(s): Dubey, Rachit; Peterson, Joshua | Abstract: The climate crisis is one of the most alarming issues of our time. Our planet is deteriorating at an unprecedented scale and accelerating rate, putting human societies and countless biological species in grave danger. The root cause of this problem is human behavior and thus it could prove crucial to examine the psychology behind the human behaviors that drive unsustainable living and impede enactment of climate policy. Unfortunately, despite the importance of psychological research in responding to the climate crisis, the field has had very little influence on the climate policy process as well as in mobilizing action on climate change, handicapping progress towards a sustainable future. This workshop aims to bring together scientists working in the broad area of climate change and sustainability, along with cognitive scientists, to engage in the development of ideas related to using cognitive science research in understanding, reducing, and responding to the climate crisis.