The Case for Behavioral Science as a Solution to Climate Change

This program offers 1.0 ACE CEUs for BCBAs

This program is free and open to all

There is no question that climate change threatens the very existence of the human species. Indeed, there is mounting evidence that the sixth mass extinction event is well and truly underway. Mitigating the threats imposed by a warming climate requires a dynamic and coordinated approach, including a strong international coalition embodied by the Paris Agreement, effective policy instruments to regulate emissions, a significant investment in technological innovations to redesign the way resource-intensive commodities are produced, and a renewed emphasis on shifting climate-relevant behavior toward more sustainable alternatives. Squarely focused on the later, this talk serves to highlight some of the work of behavioral scientists to enhance pro-environmental behavior on small scales that will prove vital to large-scale efforts to reduce emissions. A model for designing experimental evaluations of multisector community interventions to reduce emissions on large scales will be discussed. Finally, Andrew will describe an approach for engaging a growing number of behavioral analyst and concerned citizens in the fight against climate change.