Leveraging neuroscience for climate change research

• Published in: Nature climate change 2023-12, Vol.13 (12), p.1288-1297
• Main Authors: Doell, Kimberly C., Berman, Marc G., Bratman, Gregory N., Knutson, Brian, Kühn, Simone, Lamm, Claus, Pahl, Sabine, Sawe, Nik, Van Bavel, Jay J., White, Mathew P., Brosch, Tobias
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/477; 704/106/694; 706/648; Anthropogenic climate changes; Anthropogenic factors; Brain; Climate action; Climate Change; Climate change research; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Communication; Decision making; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental impact; Environmental Law/Policy/Ecojustice; Human influences; Living conditions; Nervous system; Neurosciences; Perspective; Substrates
• ISSN: 1758-678X; 1758-6798
• DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01857-4

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. Neuroscience can help combat climate change by studying its impact on the human brain, adaptation strategies, decision-making processes and communication strategies. This Perspective outlines a roadmap towards these targets and calls on neuroscientists to join the fight against this global threat.