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Description
The proposed EmoClimateChangeAction project marks a step change in research on human aspects of climate change, proposing a series of four studies of emotional perception of climate change, its determinants, as well as its influence on mental health and climate action taking. The research will be based on data collected in Poland and Norway, two countries heavily dependent on fossil fuels, but with a different approach to environmental protection. First, we will develop a unique questionnaire aiming at assessing the degree and manifestations of climate change worry — mental distress caused by the awareness and anticipation of climate change consequences. To determine its relation to mental health, we will collect participants’ responses to a battery of clinical tests assessing tendencies to worry, general mental health issues, depression and anxiety. Although the questionnaire will be developed in Poland, it will be culturally validated to use in Norway. Second, the project will gather behavioral and demographic data from large samples in Poland and Norway to explain the links between the emotional perception of climate change, climate action and a range of environmental, individual and social factors. To the best of our knowledge this will be the first study of emotional reactions to climate change on such a scale using quantitative methods in Europe. Third, using rigorous methods of experimental psychology, we will conduct innovative research to determine how climate change appeals eliciting fear, sadness, anger and hope influence climate action and climate change worry. Fourth, we will employ the neuroimaging approach to directly measure brain responses to emotional climate change vignettes. The EmoClimateChangeAction project provides a novel framework for understanding emotional responses to climate change and their links to mental health and action taking in the face of this most pressing economic, social and environmental problem of our times.
Summary of project results
This project aimed to address how the perception of climate change impacts our emotions, mental health and the willingness to engage in pro-environmental behavior. The global climate crisis is not only an environmental threat but also a growing psychological burden. Many people feel powerless, sad, anxious, or angry when they think about the consequences of climate change. However, despite the increasing prevalence of these emotions, we still don’t fully understand their impact on mental health.
Furthermore, although emotions are known to play an important role in motivating behavior, it remains unclear which specific distinct emotions, such as hope, or anger, are most effective in encouraging sustainable behavior and under what conditions. Understanding these links is crucial for developing communication strategies that promote lasting, meaningful climate engagement.
In a series of studies conducted in Poland and Norway—two countries that differ in their approaches to environmental policy—the project explored how these psychological processes are shaped by cultural context.
The project employed a wide variety of research methods, including qualitative in-depth interviews, psychometric tests, as well as behavioural and neuroimaging experiments.
First, through qualitative interviews conducted in Poland and Norway we were able to map the broad spectrum of emotions experienced in the face of climate change. This research highlighted not only commonly discussed emotions such as anxiety and powerlessness but also less explored emotions, such as anger, enthusiasm or contempt. These qualitative data informed all subsequent stages of the project and inspired the development of several research tools.
Second, we developed the Inventory of Climate Emotions (ICE)—the first standardized psychometric questionnaire designed to measure emotions experienced toward climate change. ICE consists of eight subscales: anger, contempt, enthusiasm, powerlessness, guilt, isolation, anxiety, and sorrow, and was validated in large-scale studies in Poland, Norway, and Ireland. The tool is currently being adapted for other languages, facilitating cross-cultural research on climate emotions.
Third, we created the Emotional Climate Change Stories (ECCS) set, which is a set of short, realistic narratives designed to evoke specific climate emotions. Developed in Poland and Norway, this tool is a stimuli set, designed to evoke specific climate emotions in experimental settings. ECCS is already being used in large-scale, international research projects, focused on climate emotions and their impact on pro-environmental behaviour.
Finally, we created the CLIMATE BRAIN dataset, which is a multimodal collection of questionnaire, behavioural, and neuroimaging data related to climate change. Brain activity was recorded while the participants read emotional stories about climate change and made a series of pro-environmental decisions. To measure pro-environmental behavior with real-life consequences for the environment, we used a modified version of the Carbon Emission Task (CET), which we specifically adapted for neuroimaging settings. To our knowledge, the proposed dataset is currently the only publicly available resource specifically designed to investigate human brain responses to climate change.
The project advanced our understanding of climate emotions and their impact on climate action. The project outcomes benefit researchers, as well as mental health practitioners and educators, providing new tools and insights into the emotions experienced in the face of climate change and their impact on pro-environmental behavior.
For researchers, the project created several valuable resources and research tools, which are likely to advance further research in this domain. These tools include the Inventory of Climate Emotions (ICE), the Emotional Climate Change Stories (ECCS) stimuli set, as well as the CLIMATE BRAIN neuroimaging dataset, described above. Importantly, all data collected in the course of the project, together with the code used for the data analysis, are publicly available in line with open science practices. Given that climate science is rapidly developing, it is important that research is conducted according to FAIR principles to foster international, interdisciplinary collaboration on the topic.
For mental health practitioners and educators, the project delivered the Inventory of Climate Emotions (ICE), the first standardized psychometric questionnaire designed to measure emotions experienced toward climate change. ICE allows for reliable measurement of several climate emotions: anger, contempt, enthusiasm, powerlessness, guilt, isolation, anxiety, and sorrow. As such, it can help mental-health practitioners develop therapeutic strategies that build emotional resilience and promote constructive coping mechanisms. Furthermore, it can help climate educators better understand the diversity of climate emotions and inform the design of communication strategies that can promote individual and collective engagement with climate issues.
Together, the project outputs can deepen our understanding of how people experience and act on the climate crisis, opening new paths for research, therapy, and potentially policy development.
Summary of bilateral results
The collaboration was fruitful, and the goals were met. The performance indicators table shows results for all indicators. The research, conducted with the Norwegian partner, enabled the study of two populations that are interesting to compare. Additionally, two joint applications for further funding were submitted.