Leveraging neuroscience for climate change research
- Author(s)
- Kimberly C. Doell, Marc G. Berman, Gregory N. Bratman, Brian Knutson, Simone Kühn, Claus Lamm, Sabine Pahl, Nik Sawe, Jay J. Van Bavel, Mathew P. White, Tobias Brosch
- Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change poses a substantial threat to societal living conditions. Here, we argue that neuroscience can substantially contribute to the fight against climate change and provide a framework and a roadmap to organize and prioritize neuroscience research in this domain. We outline how neuroscience can be used to: (1) investigate the negative impact of climate change on the human brain; (2) identify ways to adapt; (3) understand the neural substrates of decisions with pro-environmental and harmful outcomes; and (4) create neuroscience-based insights into communication and intervention strategies that aim to promote climate action. The paper is also a call to action for neuroscientists to join broader scientific efforts to tackle the existential environmental threats Earth is currently facing.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Environment and Climate Research Hub, Vienna Cognitive Science Hub
- External organisation(s)
- Université de Genève, New York University, University of Chicago, University of Washington, Stanford University, Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung, University of Exeter
- Journal
- Nature Climate Change
- Volume
- 13
- Pages
- 1288-1297
- No. of pages
- 10
- ISSN
- 1758-678X
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01857-4
- Publication date
- 11-2023
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 501030 Cognitive science
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science (miscellaneous), Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 13 - Climate Action
- Portal url
- https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/leveraging-neuroscience-for-climate-change-research(a2079359-e453-4ea0-b37f-af13d7ca2293).html