Psychological research and global climate change

Policies aimed at mitigating climate change, adapting to it and minimizing its impacts must take into account human behaviours and motivations. Psychology can therefore inform efforts to address climate change, but further research is required. Human behaviour is integral not only to causing global climate change but also to responding and adapting to it. Here, we argue that psychological research should inform efforts to address climate change, to avoid misunderstandings about human behaviour and motivations that can lead to ineffective or misguided policies. We review three key research areas: describing human perceptions of climate change; understanding and changing individual and household behaviour that drives climate change; and examining the human impacts of climate change and adaptation responses. Although much has been learned in these areas, we suggest important directions for further research.