Scientists Warn of the Behavioural Crisis Behind Ecological Overshoot

Humanity is facing a global ecological crisis that threatens the survival of millions of species, the stability of our climate, and the well-being of future generations. This crisis is driven by the unsustainable consumption of natural resources and the overproduction of waste and pollution. But what are the root causes of this ecological overshoot? And what can we do to reverse it?

A group of scientists from various disciplines has published a paper in the journal BioScience, titled “World Scientists’ Warning: The Behavioural Crisis Driving Ecological Overshoot”. The paper argues that the ecological crisis is fundamentally a behavioural crisis, and that we need to address the psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence our decisions and actions.

The paper builds on the previous “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity” statements, which have been issued since 1992 by thousands of scientists from around the world, calling for urgent action to protect the environment and human well-being. The most recent statement, issued in 2022, warned that “humanity is unequivocally facing a climate emergency” and that “we must act now to avoid irreversible consequences for life on Earth”.

scientists warn behavioural crisis ecological overshoot, Photo by geograph.org.uk, CC LICENSES

The authors of the new paper point out that despite these warnings, humanity has failed to make sufficient progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, deforestation, land degradation, freshwater depletion, ocean acidification, and other indicators of ecological overshoot. They suggest that this failure is not due to a lack of scientific knowledge or technological solutions, but rather to a lack of behavioural change.

They identify four main behavioural drivers of ecological overshoot: overconsumption, overpopulation, short-termism, and denial. They explain how these drivers are influenced by psychological factors (such as cognitive biases, emotions, values, and motivations), social factors (such as norms, incentives, institutions, and power structures), and cultural factors (such as worldviews, beliefs, narratives, and identities).

They also propose four main behavioural solutions to reverse ecological overshoot: sufficiency, efficiency, resilience, and transformation. They explain how these solutions can be implemented by applying behavioural insights from various disciplines (such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, and political science) to design effective policies and interventions that can motivate and enable people to adopt more sustainable lifestyles and behaviours.

They conclude that “behavioural change is essential for humanity to achieve ecological sustainability and well-being” and that “behavioural science can provide valuable insights and tools for facilitating such change”. They call for more interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists, policymakers, practitioners, educators, media, and civil society to address the behavioural crisis driving ecological overshoot.

They also urge individuals to take personal responsibility for their own actions and choices, and to join collective efforts to demand and support systemic change. They write: “We all have a role to play in creating a more sustainable future for ourselves and other species. We invite you to join us in this endeavour.”