Psychology’s task in the transition to sustainable societies – From environmental concern to understanding impact relevant behaviours

Keynote Lecture by Ellen Matthies (Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg)

The presentation reflects on the potential of psychology’s possible contributions to the urgently needed transition to sustainable societies, i.e. less CO2-emissions, less resource consumption, more global justice. It takes the development of environmental psychology as a starting point and focuses on central discussions and milestones: The development from a focus on environmental concern and its relevance for individual behaviours to a focus on the explanation of the most impact relevant individual behaviours. This development opens perspectives in particular for cognitive psychology to become part of a solution. However, further possible contributions have been discussed over the last years. The talk gives examples from recent research.