Dear Friends and Colleagues,

More interesting news on the environment and psychology from around the world. 

An extra special thanks to Fletcher Curnow who assisted with this edition.

Regards,

Susie Burke

Public Interest, Environment and Disaster Response
twitter:  @BurkePsy.

If you are new to this newsletter and would like to subscribe to receive monthly news, click here.

This month’s Research Round-up focuses on the social dimensions of climate change communication and engagement, paying particular attention to the factors which make it difficult for people to talk about climate change, and presents our take on 3 recent articles.

The first study tested the claim that environmentalists are more likely to adopt highly visible environmental behaviours and anti-environmentalists are more likely to avoid those behaviours.

The second study explored how people evaluate an individual who confronts someone who has made racist comments, compared with someone who confronts a person expressing disregard for climate change.

The final study looked at the impact of two issues - feeling confident about talking about climate change and believing that talking about climate change will create a positive impact - in motivating people to talk about the issue and break climate silence.

This article in the The Medical Journal of Australia discusses the processes and findings in a recent consultation on climate change and health policy with health care stakeholders, such as psychologists, clinicians from medicine, nursing, public health, academia, social work, etc., across Australia,

The article revealed that health professionals and health organisations have much to contribute when it comes to public policy development.

To read more, see the full article here. 

 

The Climate Council's report outlines why – based on the “carbon budget” approach – opening up the Galilee Basin for coal mining is fundamentally at odds with global efforts to tackle climate change effectively. The proposed Carmichael Mine poses serious risks to the environment (e.g. more intense extreme weather events and destruction of our most iconic ecosystems including the Great Barrier Reef), public health and North Queensland tourism.

You can view the key findings and download the report here. 

These 8 simple but important insights from psychological science,
summarised with the acronym A.C.T.I.V.A.T.E., help people come to
terms and cope with the profound implications of climate change.
We hope they will ACTIVATE the public into more effectively engaging with the challenge of climate change and participate in speedy societal change to restore a safe climate.

This booklet is part of the APS 2016 Presidential Initiative looking at how the science of psychology can help us to understand and participate in solutions to the ‘big issues’ facing the world today.

The handbook is available now from the APS website here.

In addition to the handbook we have created a visual tool which highlights the eight strategies in an inforgraphic of the acronym ACTIVATE. Download your copy here.

Acknowledge feelings

Create social norms

Talk about it

Inspire positive visions 

Value it

Act

Time is now

Engage with nature

Common Cause are holding introductory workshops and masterclasses in both Sydney and Melbourne.

Introductory workshops are on values and frames that motivate change. Bookings for the Sydney workshop are available here, and the Melbourne workshop here.

Communications masterclasses, for those who have already attended an introductory workshop, help put Common Cause into practice in your communications. Bookings for the Sydney masterclass are available here, and the Melbourne masterclass here.

For further details visit www.commoncause.org.au/workshops

The Kazzie award has been set up in memory of Karen Curnow, an environmental psychologist with a passion for encouraging positive environmental behaviour (in climate change, littering, water saving), particularly in relation to enhancing sustainable action.

The annual award recognises women building social cohesion, based on grass roots action, respect and dignity in the environment sector. It assists in providing funds to recipients to go towards a variety of areas such as community projects, education, research, professional development, etc.

If you would like to apply for the award, wish to encourage others to apply or want to share it with your networks, please visit the link below. This year's award will be presented at the KNSWB Litter Congress in late July, so applicants will need to get in fast.

http://kazzieawards.com.au/

Global Climate Change Week (GCCW) aims to encourage academic communities – including academics, students, and non-academic staff at universities – to engage with each other, their communities, and policy makers on climate change actions and solutions.

In this, its third year, GCCW will take place on October 9-15.

GCCW carried out activities in 2015 and 2016, and provide advice on organising activities at your university.

If you would like to take part in GCCW 2017, please register here. And please help to spread the word about Global Climate Change Week.

If you have any questions, email: contact@globalclimatechangeweek.com 

Climate for Change are hosting a volunteer info session and movie night screening the film 'Chasing Ice' at Longplay in Melbourne on the 19th of July. 

See here for further details.