Changing Behaviors to Combat Climate Change
Desired behaviour is essential. Behaviour-based approaches will help you achieve your behavioural objectives. Here are a few things I learned from behavioural psychology. From my safety training.
- People tend to behave the way they believe. The deep down, real beliefs. Not just the nice stories you and I tell ourselves. You can understand what you really believe – deep down – by considering your behaviours. Take speeding for example. Most people will say speeding is dangerous. But then why do they do it? One of the main reasons is because they don’t believe their own speeding is dangerous.
- Everyone believes in the Polluter Pays Principle. However, many of us do not believe our own carbon pollution matters. So, we continue to pollute. You also might avoid paying for your carbon pollution.
- Another example is that famous bumper sticker: Whoever has the most toys wins. Now we all laugh, but why? The reason is because we’re not in the running. Deep down, most of us believe that having more toys is better than having fewer toys. So, it’s shop till you drop. Consumption reigns.
- Why are there climate deniers in the fossil fuel industry? It’s because their prosperity is at odds with what they see happening to their climate. Surely, not me?
If the climate crisis results from the wrong behaviours of a billion people over a generation or two, howcan we change this behaviour and begin to change course? It starts with believing that you matter. I matter. I can make a difference. You can too. Keep telling yourself that until you believe it. Better yet, keep taking action that does make a difference.
‘Theme of the Week” – Evidence of extreme weather!
