Poverty and Climate Change: Psychological Perspectives

18 July 20235:30pm - 7:00pm
  • Climate and environment
Free
Run-down terraced houses.
Online workshop
Division of Clinical Psychology
DCP South West Branch
South West of England Branch

The BPS South West Branch and DCP South West branch invite you to join us to learn together and to consider how we can build climate awareness into our professional practice and future research.

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Psychologists have a lot to learn, and to contribute, through engaging with the suffering and resourcefulness of those in the UK, and beyond, who have done least to cause environmental harm.

These people are already experiencing the worst of its effects and are facing worse in the future.

Programme

Chaired by Annie Mitchell (Clinical and Community Psychologist, Associate of Plymouth and Exeter Universities), we are delighted to welcome 3 inspiring speakers to this event:

  • How poverty and climate change were simultaneously tackled by community activist, Cathy McCormack - with a little help from her friends
    David Fryer, Community and Critical Psychologist, University of Queensland, Australia, Fellow of the Society for Community Research and Action (Division 27 of the American Psychological Association), Fellow of the British Psychological Society and of the Critical Institute. 

  • Community fridges as an intervention that links climate, poverty and community psychology
    Lealah Hewitt-Johns: Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Plymouth.

  • Partnerships for People and Place
    Greta Defeyter BSc PhD CPychol FRSA FHEA FBPs, Professor in Developmental Psychology, Director of the Healthy Living Lab, University of Northumbria.

The talks will be followed by participatory time for all participants to question, contribute and discuss ideas and actions.  

Who is facing the impact of climate change?

Children and young people, everyone living in poverty, those who are rendered homeless, those who have suffered from the impacts of colonialism, people with long-term health conditions face the various impacts of climate change.

This includes extreme weather events, flooding, excess heat, air pollution, fuel poverty, the threat of future shocks and all the associated traumas.

Increasingly, citizens, politicians and business leaders are realising that climate and ecological harm present a serious threat to human health and wellbeing, as well as to that of all the other species with whom we co-exist.

Effects of the climate crisis

Climate change is causing massively increased death and suffering.

The World Health Organisation anticipates there will be a quarter of a million extra deaths per year between 2030 and 2025 from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress.

Research by our colleagues at the University of Bath has had a global impact in conveying the huge level of concern and sense of abandonment experienced by children and young people across the world in realising the uncertain and damaged future they face.

We psychologists have personal and professional responsibilities to face these threats (while recognising the huge emotional and cognitive load in doing so).

We also, more positively, must share ideas, stories, knowledge and inspiration to support the individual and systemic changes that could lead to better and fairer lives through preventing and mitigating climate harm.

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