KARACHI:
In today’s era, many individual fields of knowledge have overlapped and produced a new and broad spectrum of expertise. One such field is climate and environmental psychology. The field emerged in response to the current scenario of climate emergency that has been a source of concern around the world for the last couple of years. To improve knowledge about societal problems due to climate change, psychologists have helped scientists by producing an enormous amount of work on the relevant issues in a highly effective manner. These issues are significant for understanding and addressing the climate crisis.
The main emphasis is on how to promote sustainable behaviour change among individuals. This includes individual motivation to nurture pro-climate norms and address individual resistance e.g., using renewable energies. It also provides a support mechanism for a more sustainable future by developing transformational narratives. There is a need to train students in this discipline so that non-governmental organisations and government departments can utilise their expertise in urban planning, environmental design, and architecture compatible with climate change.
Academia can play a pivotal role by introducing developmental psychology programs as it can help with the application of psychological theories and human behaviours to environment-related issues. This may enable the possibility of an in-depth investigation regarding the adoption of environmentally positive behaviours. For instance, how specific surroundings make people feel happy and productive. The job of such experts is wider than indoor or office settings. They may work outside within the community, such as in zoos, parks, or any communal space of the same kind to converse problems of pollution and damage to biodiversity.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 5th, 2022.
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