Why Is It So Hard to Do Anything About Climate Change?

For decades scientists have warned us about the risks of climate change. Yet humans are badly psychologically designed to face up to the challenge of changing our behaviour. Research shows that constant threats of impending doom make us hit the snooze button rather than waking us up. And our evolutionary shortcomings mean we respond to the threat of immediate danger rather than what might happen in the future. So what can actually work to help us change our status quo? Presenters Kate Lamble and Neal Razzell are joined by: George Marshall, Founder of Climate Outreach and author of Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change Elke Weber, Professor of Psychology at Princeton University Per Espen Stoknes, Psychologist, Economist and author of What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming. Producer: Sophie Eastaugh Reporter: Frank Walter Researcher: Natasha Fernandes Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Emma Rippon Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot