The subjectivity surrounding climate change can be as complex as the phenomenon of global warming itself. For many people, climate change is difficult to wrap their minds around—it is hyper-complex, non-local, and presents an existential threat. Both climate inaction—as well as climate action—present dramatic, unimaginable changes, some which evoke strong emotions. Certain groups are opposed to eco-authoritarian leadership styles, dragging climate change into the culture wars and further delaying coordinated action. Yet, for climate solutions to be realized, the population needs to be on board (i.e., through voting, support for climate policies, social signaling, changed lifestyles, etc). I will present recent research on this psycho-social layer of the climate challenge—including climate action-logics, emotions and shadow, and discourses—and will discuss skillful means of engaging consciousness in climate change response.
Integral
