What roles can – and should – different societal actors play in addressing complex societal challenges? On 8 May, in collaboration with the Wubbo Ockels School for Energy & Climate, University of Groningen, leading environmental psychology researchers from around the world (and across the University of Groningen) will come together at House of Connections for a symposium on how governments, businesses, organisations, and individuals are capable of doing to tackle the biggest issues of our time, such as climate change.
You can register to join the symposium here!
Session one will be about how different actors can contribute to addressing societal issues, and will feature the following speakers and topics:
🟢 Lorraine Whitmarsh (University of Bath): Carbon capability: multiple roles and contexts for climate action
🟢 Madeline Judge (University of Otago): Local council staff’s perceptions of the role of councils and other actors in taking climate action
🟢 Jeffrey Lees (Faculty of Economics and Business – University of Groningen) Pluralistic ignorance and managers’ support for organisational sustainability policies
Session two will address the question of what motivates or inhibits social change action across actors, and will be discussed by:
🟢 Martijn van Zomeren (Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences – University of Groningen): Psychology social contract as a buffer against increasing polarization in society
🟢 Jan Willem Bolderdijk (University of Amsterdam): Lessons for social tipping from the phasing out of Black Pete in the Netherlands
🟢 Thijs Bouman (Environmental Psychology Groningen): Misperceiving others’ values: implications for sustainable transitions
The programme will end with a plenary discussion led by our colleague Linda Steg (followed by lunch).
Want to be part of the conversation? Register for the symposium here!
