Ben Newell: "Addressing the Uncertainty-Action Gap on Climate Change"

Ben Newell, Professor of Behavioural Science,
University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Titel: Addressing the Uncertainty-Action Gap on Climate Change

Abstract: The claim that we – individually and collectively – are not doing enough to address climate change appears self-evident. But the question of what would count as “enough” for any given individual, society or nation is (perhaps) difficult to answer. Uncertainty about effectiveness, necessity, and capability is often invoked as a reason for not acting. My talk will address this ‘uncertainty-action’ gap via a discussion of two novel frameworks that address the potential for driving action via the lowering of cognitive costs and the alignment of cognitive and motivational representations of desired behaviour. Combined, these frameworks offer guidance for behavioural interventions that acknowledge and facilitate people’s agency in achieving personal and societal goals. I will also discuss the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, and argue that as cognitive scientists we have a crucial role in helping to close the uncertainty-action gap.

Speaker bio: Ben Newell is a Professor in the School of Psychology at UNSW Sydney, and Director of the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response (ICRR). His research focuses on the cognitive processes underlying judgment, choice and decision-making. His role in the Institute is to drive an interdisciplinary research agenda bringing together expertise from behavioural science, climate science, economics, law and governance to address the risks and opportunities of climate change. He has published multiple articles at the intersection of psychology and climate change, with particular focus on the understanding of uncertainty and risk. Ben is lead author of the books Straight Choices: The Psychology of Decision Making, and Open Minded: Searching for Truth about the Unconscious Mind. Ben is a member of the Academic Advisory Panel of the Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA), and was part of the Chief Medical Officer’s advisory group for the National Health and Climate Strategy. He also serves on climate and behavioural advisory panels for Commonwealth Bank of Australia, AoN, and the Actuaries Institute.