Minding the Climate: How Neuroscience Can Help Solve Our Environmental Crisis

Minding the Climate investigates the problem of climate change through the neuroscience of decision-making. It explains how the human brain evolved to prioritize short-term survival over long-term outcomes, which is poorly suited to the present when scarcity is a lesser concern and slow-moving, novel challenges like environmental issues present the greatest danger. Ann-Christine Duhaime, MD, suggests concrete, achievable interventions that have been shown to encourage our neurological circuits to embrace new rewards, such as reducing carbon footprints and supporting sustainable practices. The more we understand how our tendencies can be overridden by our brains capacity to adapt, the more likely we are to have a future.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 18 October 2022
Publisher: Harvard University Press

Climate change is an urgent problem that requires immediate action. However, the sense of urgency often fails to translate into meaningful remedies. If we believe that climate change is a real threat, why is it so difficult to change our behavior and consumer tendencies?

Minding the Climate, a new book by Ann-Christine Duhaime, MD, delves into this problem through the neuroscience of decision-making. Duhaime highlights the evolution of the human brain during periods of resource scarcity, where it adapted to prioritize short-term survival over uncertain long-term outcomes. However, this behavioral architecture is ill-suited to the modern world, where scarcity is less of a concern and slow-moving, novel challenges like environmental issues pose the greatest danger.

Duhaime explains how even our acknowledged best interests are thwarted by the brain's reward system. If a behavior is not perceived as immediately beneficial, we are unlikely to engage in it, regardless of our knowledge that we should. This is why we often lament climate change while indulging in short-term consumer satisfactions that ensure the disaster will continue.

Fortunately, there are ways to sway our brains and those of others to alter our behaviors. Duhaime offers concrete, achievable interventions that have been shown to encourage our neurological circuits to embrace new rewards. These small, incremental steps taken by individuals in various roles, such as consumers, in the workplace, or in leadership positions, are essential in mitigating climate change.

The book provides a comprehensive roadmap for individuals and organizations to embrace sustainable practices and prioritize long-term survival. It challenges us to reevaluate our priorities and make conscious choices that align with the well-being of the planet and future generations. By understanding the neuroscience behind decision-making and implementing effective interventions, we can overcome the barriers to change and work towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

Weight: 612g
Dimension: 166 x 245 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674247727