At Behavioral Science Applications LLC our singular purpose is to help our clients form accurate behavioral assumptions to guide their policies, plans, procedures, and exercises. The impacts of climate change on human behavior and behavioral health can seem overwhelming, however, solutions are accessible and abundant. Practitioners, policymakers, and organizations can all help to build resilience with shared responsibility and to bring about solutions to climate change in order to preserve our collective physical and behavioral health, safety, and security.

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One of the most time-tested concepts in psychology is Lewin's equation, which posits that individual and group behavior is a function of the interaction between a person and their environment.  As climate change makes disruptive and dangerous events more frequent and intense, organizations will need to prepare for and adapt to new challenges. One of the most sensitive elements to climate change is human behavior, a critical aspect of all organizations and operations. 

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The Center for Climate Change & Human Behavior™ (CCCHB) was developed specifically for this purpose: to anticipate and prepare for the likely behavioral challenges associated with the many facets of climate change.  The Center offers a range of paid and pro bono training and consulting opportunities to introduce practitioners in security, emergency management, business continuity, and related disciplines to climate-informed frameworks, and to help them apply those concepts to their work. Our goal is to help leaders make climate-informed decisions and adopt climate-smart policies.

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The Climate Change-Human Behavior Nexus

When considering extreme temperatures, it is important to know that the part of the brain that controls thermoregulation is the same part responsible for emotional regulation. The effects of heat impair attention span and memory, as well as the ability to process new information. Heat degrades the ability to perceive situational information and the potential for reactive/impulsive decision-making increases. High heat also affects the perception of risk and risk-taking behavior. 

 

Climate change can also cause and exacerbate existing mental health problems. Researchers have found connections between extreme weather and increases in PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use, and risk of suicide—especially if such weather is recurring. It is also a demonstrated correlation between higher temperatures (especially heat waves) and increased suicide rates; increased hospitalization and mortality for those with diagnosed mental health conditions; increased aggression, conflict, and violence, and lower sleep quality leading to cognitive and emotional changes. All of these factors have a direct impact on both performance and wellness. 

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As extreme weather events increase, the composition of the labor force will change as climate change increasingly will affect employee morale and productivity, geographical placement of employees, demand for new skills, and safety and security. It may also affect how people live and work together, workplace cultures and values, leadership styles, decision-making processes, safety considerations, organizational structures, and processes.

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