How psychology can help people live more climate-friendly lives – lessons from around the world

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Conversation or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A global study involving over 250 scientists and 59,000 participants across 63 countries investigated how psychological interventions can encourage climate-friendly behaviors
• The research found that interventions' effectiveness varied greatly depending on cultural and national contexts, highlighting the complexity of fostering global climate action

🔭 The context: The study explored 11 different strategies to enhance climate change awareness and action, such as reducing psychological distance to make the effects of climate change feel more immediate
• While some interventions were effective in certain countries, like Austria, they had the opposite effect in others, such as Germany

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Understanding the psychological underpinnings of climate action is crucial for developing targeted interventions that can motivate individuals worldwide to adopt more sustainable lifestyles
• This research underscores the importance of context and cultural sensitivity in designing and implementing climate change mitigation strategies

⏭️ What's next: The findings have inspired the creation of a new app designed to help individuals, policymakers, and climate communicators identify the most effective interventions based on specific demographics, countries, and political identities
• This tool aims to facilitate more informed and effective climate action at all levels of society

📈 One stat: 86% of participants believe climate change is happening and is a significant problem caused by humans, with 72% supporting crucial climate mitigation policies

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