Human behavioral contributions to climate change: Psychological and contextual drivers.

TLDR

Human behavior drives rapid climate change, largely due to resource use amplified by population growth over the past century. The article investigates the psychosocial drivers of human impact on climate, focusing on reproduction and consumption patterns, and concludes with ethical implications. The authors identify and differentiate individual, societal, and behavioral predictors of environmental impact, reviewing relevant research and highlighting areas needing more psychological attention.

Abstract

We are facing rapid changes in the global climate, and these changes are attributable to human behavior. Humans produce this global impact through our use of natural resources, multiplied by the vast increase in population seen in the past 50 to 100 years. Our goal in this article is to examine the underlying psychosocial causes of human impact, primarily through patterns of reproduction and consumption. We identify and distinguish individual, societal, and behavioral predictors of environmental impact. Relevant research in these areas (as well as areas that would be aided by greater attention by psychologists) are reviewed. We conclude by highlighting ethical issues that emerge when considering how to address human behavioral contributions to climate change.