Educational and developmental psychologists take action in response to the climate crisis

ABSTRACT

Objective

The climate crisis is the defining issue of our time. Educational and developmental psychologists can make clear and important contributions to addressing this existential threat. The articles in the Climate Crisis Special Issue take on the issue of climate change from multiple angles, with varied populations, using different research methods and theoretical frameworks. The special issue makes clear the important role psychologists have to play in addressing the climate crisis.

Method

This commentary was conducted by reviewing 10 empirical contributions to this Special Issue. Themes that cut across multiple articles are discussed.

Results

The themes are identity, thinking and reasoning, and how emotions guide our actions on the complex socio-scientific topic of climate change.

Conclusion

The topics explored are mainstay issues within the discipline and show the relevance of many psychological constructs to the study of teaching, learning, and communicating about climate change. A shift evident within these pages is the grounding of climate science instruction within the socio-political context. There are opportunities for educational and developmental psychologists to bring their expertise to bear on this critically important topic. These articles illustrate a path forward.

KEY POINTS

What is already known about this topic:

1. Climate change is a psychological issue.

2. Climate change instruction is challenging.

3. Climate anxiety is increasing among youth.

What this topic adds:

1. Educational and developmental psychologists can take important actions and are increasingly exploring the socio-political context of climate change instruction and communication.

2. Climate change instruction can be successful if properly scaffolded.

3. Climate change instruction can reduce anxiety.

KEYWORDS:

• Climate change
• climate action
• climate change instruction
• climate anxiety

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

There is no data associated with this commentary.