The power to save the planet is inside us all – how to get past despair to powerful action on climate change

Our species is in a race with climate change, and a lot of people want to know, “Can I really make a difference?”

The question concerns what’s known as agency. Although the meaning of agency is complicated, it simply means being able and willing to do what you set out.

How well people exercise their agency will determine the severity of global warming – and Its consequences.

The evidence is clear. People are making a huge impact on the climate. Climate change can also be affected by human actions For the betterReduce fossil fuel burning and carbon emission. It’s not too late to avert the worst effects of climate change, but time Is running out.

Despite all the technical ability, humanity is still a primitive species. Alarmingly, the time between each event is extremely short of psychological agency: belief in one’s personal ability to help. A 10-country survey studyThe Lancet, a British medical journal that examines the health of people aged 16-25, found that over half of them feel anxious, sad and anxious about climate change.

We bring our unique perspectives as professors to the challenges of climate change action. Tom BatemanStudies in leadership and psychology Michael Mann is a climate scientist and author of the recent book “The New Climate War.”

Believing ‘I can do this’

Human activities – particularly relying on coal, oil and natural gas for energy – have Climate change has had a dramatic impactIt can have dire consequences.

The planet is heated by greenhouse gases that are emitted from fossil fuel burning. Global warming has fueled an increase in temperaturesAdapting to increasingly severe storms, rising sea levels, and worsening heat waves is becoming more difficult. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPC) has released a new report describing some of the dangers that are already occurring and how they can be addressed. People and the environment should be consideredAt risk

As humans have the option to drive gas-guzzlers and to make decisions that affect the climate, air quality, or public health, so can they. It is possible to act through scientific knowledge and many avenues of action.

A key part of agency is one’s belief, when faced with a task to perform, a situation to manage, or a long-term goal like protecting the climate, that “I can do this.” It’s known as self-efficacy.

This psychological factor is perhaps the most important for predicting how people will deal with climate change and COVID-19. SurveyAccording to data from Europe, People feel they have adequate agency More likely to perseverePerform at high levels and rebound from setbacks

Climate change is a major concern. self-efficacy strengthens a person’s willingnessTo reduce carbon emissions (mitigation), and to prepare for climate-related catastrophes (adaptation). Studies For actions that includeVolunteering, donating, contacting elected representatives, conserving energy, conserving water during extreme conditions You can find out more.

How to increase your sense of agency

Focus on the facts to build agency for something as daunting as climate change. Climate change is a case in point. Greenhouse gas emissions are the most harmful, and people can do a lot more than they realize.

A successful agency must have four psychological drivers that can be strengthened through practice.

1) Intentionality: “I choose my climate goals and actions for high impact.”

Deciding to act with purpose—knowing what you intend to do–is far more effective than thinking “My heart’s in the right place, I just have to find the time.”

In the big picture, one’s highest climate efficacy is in participating in larger efforts to stop fossil fuel use. Individuals can set ambitious goals to reduce their energy consumption and join other people in collective action.

2) Forethought: “I am looking ahead and thinking strategically about how to proceed.”

You can achieve your goals by knowing what you want. Think strategicallyCreate an action plan. Some plans are simple and can be used to make lifestyle changes such as changing travel patterns or consumption. Wider reaching actions can help change systems – such as long-term activities that advocate for climate-friendly policies and politicians, or against policies that are harmful. These include demonstrations or voter campaigns.

3) Self-regulation: “I can manage myself over time to optimize my efforts and effectiveness.”

Worrying about the future is becoming a lifelong task—off and on for some, constant for others. Climate change will create disasters and scarcities and disrupt lives and careers. It will also increase stress and harm the public’s health. Stress relief can be found in seeing the positive and working with others.

4) Self-reflection: “ I will periodically assess my effectiveness, rethink strategies and tactics, and make necessary adjustments.”

It’s difficult to imagine a greater need for lifelong learning than as we navigate decades of climate change, its many harms and efforts by fossil fuel companies to obscure the facts. Reflection – or, more precisely, keeping up with the latest science, learning and adapting – is vital as the future keeps presenting new challenges.

Personal agency is just the beginning

Even minor details can be significant The first stepsIndividual actions can reduce carbon emissions and lead us to greater action. However, individual actions are only one part of the solution. Big polluters often encourage consumers to take small individual actions. Deflect attentionHence the need to make large-scale policy decisions.

Individual agencies should be viewed as a gateway to group efforts that can quickly and effectively change the trajectory for climate change.

“Collective agency” is another form of agency. A critical mass of people can help create societal [tipping points]This pressure on policymakers and industry to act more quickly, safely, and equitably in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Helping to elect local, state and national officials who support protecting the climate, and influencing investors and leaders of corporations and associations, can also create a sense of agency, known as “proxy agency.”

Together, these efforts can rapidly improve humanity’s capacity to solve problems and head off disasters. Fixing the world’s climate mess requires both urgency and a sense of agency to create the best possible future.