A new whitepaper by ESCP student Anne Viallefont, from MSc in Energy Management, presents an innovative perspective on climate change, suggesting that our brain chemistry may be a key factor in driving unsustainable behaviours.
The paper, The Intersection of Neurochemistry and Environmental Cognition in Climate Change, explores how human neurobiology has influenced the overconsumption of Earth’s resources, potentially leading us towards environmental catastrophe.
Key insights
- The interplay between human biology and climate change illustrates how our cognitive processes can hinder our response to environmental crises, even when we understand the consequences.
- We are historically hardwired to desire hierarchy and status, which often translates into the accumulation of material wealth and consumption, supporting unsustainable industries such as fast fashion.
- Testosterone levels increase when status is challenged, driving competitive behaviours that can result in excessive consumption and drive climate change.
- Dopamine continually craves greater rewards, perpetuating a cycle of overconsumption and overuse of finite resources.
- Rationality can be overruled by the more primitive limbic system, a conflict which can lead to decision-making that prioritises short-term rewards and ignores factual evidence on issues like climate change.
- Connection hormone Oxytocin reinforces feelings of belonging and the ‘us vs them’ mentality, which can hinder collective action on global issues like climate change.
Anne Viallefont’s research highlights how these deeply ingrained neurological behaviours can contribute to unsustainable practices, making it crucial to recognise and address these patterns if we hope to move towards a more sustainable future.
Comprehending climate change through a neurological lens
For many, climate change is an abstract concept that is difficult to grasp fully. Viallefont’s research suggests that this may be because our brains are not naturally equipped to handle such complex and far-reaching issues. Our understanding of climate change is also influenced by our highly limited perspective and personal experiences.
Viewing climate change through the lens of neurochemistry can help explain why it is so challenging to galvanise collective action. By understanding the psychological and neurological underpinnings of our behaviours, we can begin to address the root causes of climate change and stimulate behaviour changes.
Understanding relative status and the ‘discount rate’ bias
Humans naturally compare themselves to others, a concept known as relative status, and we are genetically hardwired to have the desire to constantly consume. In today’s industrialised world, this instinct, rooted in survival, manifests as an often relentless pursuit of material goods and status symbols, driving industries like fast fashion and contributing to environmental degradation.
The ‘discount rate’ bias further exacerbates this problem by causing individuals and organisations to prioritise immediate rewards over future benefits. This short-term thinking fuels a cycle of consumption that accelerates climate change, as people opt for the comfort of the present over the uncertainty of the future.
The role of dopamine in climate change
Dopamine, a neurotransmitter often linked to addiction, plays a significant role in our consumption habits and the desire to accumulate wealth and status. As we become accustomed to certain levels of reward, our brains seek out ever-increasing amounts, leading to a never-ending cycle of consumption. This craving for new and more significant rewards, with no biological limit, whether through shopping, eating, or other behaviours, contributes to the depletion of the Earth’s resources.
What is relative adaptation?
We have adapted to believe and see relative to what is around us. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for rational thought and decision-making, is still heavily influenced by the limbic system, which governs our emotions and instinctual responses, such as fight or flight.
This has led to the development of two major thought systems, one that is rapid and immediate but less accurate, and the other that is more rational but takes longer and requires more effort to activate. The difference of perception between these two systems is largely where our conscious and unconscious biases stem from.
When it comes to climate change, these biases can lead us to perceive environmental threats in a distorted way. Relative adaptation can create a disconnect between knowledge and action regarding climate change, emphasising the need for factual evidence to combat our cognitive and adapted biases.
Oxytocin and ‘us vs them’
Oxytocin is a hormone that plays a crucial role in establishing and maintaining relationships and connections. As social beings, we often conform to the beliefs and behaviours of our groups. If our social circles downplay climate change or prioritise convenience over sustainability, we may adopt these views as well, reinforcing biases and hindering collective action. This social reinforcement can create an echo chamber where the urgency of climate issues is minimised, further delaying necessary changes.
Conclusion
Viallefont’s whitepaper calls for a deeper understanding of how brain chemistry drives our environmental behaviours. It underscores the need for new approaches in tackling climate change, ones that take into account the inherent biases and neurological patterns that influence human behaviour. Only by recognising and addressing these factors can we hope to steer towards a more sustainable future.
