Even people who know things are bad for them, like too many sweets, find it hard to change their behaviour. It is easier to change if the result of changing behaviour is immediate, tangible and measureable – that’s evidenced by the labour market – somebody will do anything at a price.<\/p>\n
But it is more difficult if there is uncertainty about how to change, what the result of the change will be and whether or not others are doing the same thing. Changing our living habits and behaviour to be more interdependent with nature (to be more sustainable) faces these challenges.<\/p>\n
A recent report (Psychology and Global Climate Change: Addressing a Multi-faceted Phenomenon and Set of Challenges<\/a>) and article (The psychology of climate change: why we do nothing<\/a>) discuss the barriers to changing our behaviour, with particular reference to climate change.<\/p>\n Anxiety and helplessness, argues the report published last week by the American Psychological Association<\/a>, rather than ambivalence or apathy are the biggest barriers to individuals taking action. It says that unlike other environmental problems, like river pollution or GM food, people do not see climate change as an immediate threat.<\/p>\n The report identified some key barriers, including:<\/p>\n The first step is to be aware that there is a choice of behaviour. Then to care. Then behaviour changes.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, this is not as easy done as said. This report on the chemical industry<\/a> shows that little has changed in the five decades since Rachel Carson warned of the dangers of DDT in Silent Spring:<\/p>\n ‘For myself, when it comes to chemicals, voluntary action just doesn\u2019t work. The only instrument that works is legislation. It\u2019s the only language that they understand.’<\/span><\/p>\n The tactics employed, the \u2018Six Ds\u2019: ‘Deny the problem, Distort the facts, Discredit the opponent, Distract by suggesting voluntary action, Delay legislation, and Dilute its substance.’ ‘It\u2019s the same old fight.’ <\/span><\/p>\n Industry will change if forced to by legislators, or consumers changing their buying behaviour. So we should buy differently.<\/p>\n At the end of the day change is up to us as individuals.\u00a0 Living with nature must be in our hearts, minds and hands.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Even people who know things are bad for them, like too many sweets, find it hard to change their behaviour. It is easier to change if the result of changing behaviour is immediate, tangible and measureable – that’s evidenced by the labour market – somebody will do anything at a price. But it is more …\n
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