Rethinking Climate Change: The Happy Climate Approach

Psychologist Liz Dunn and behavior scientist Jay-Z propose a happy climate approach to tackle climate change. They emphasize that scolding and shaming individuals for their unsustainable behaviors is not effective. Instead, they suggest focusing on positive emotions and pleasure as motivators for sustainable actions. They identify three main areas for change: diet, transport, and shopping. In terms of diet, they advocate for reducing meat consumption, particularly beef, while still being able to enjoy occasional high-carbon meals. They also promote mindful shopping and thrift shopping to decrease the negative impact of fast fashion. Additionally, they highlight the benefits of carpooling and building social connections through shared transportation. The key is to make sustainable actions enjoyable and to celebrate progress rather than striving for perfection. By adopting this happy climate approach, individuals can make a positive impact on the planet and increase their own happiness.