Role of Pro-Environmental Behaviour in Dealing with Eco-Emotions: A Solution-focused Approach

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23493121

Bhawna Singh and Nayanika Singh (School of Psychology, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh)

Climate change is an environmental and psychological problem that gives rise to eco-emotions like eco-anxiety, eco-grief, and eco-guilt. While they are associated with psychological pain, growing evidence suggests that they can lead to positive behaviours towards the environment if managed with effective coping strategies. By focusing on solutions, pro-environmental behaviour helps in managing eco-emotions and promoting well-being, according to the research review. The review indicates that taking part in climate-friendly activities boosts hope, resilience, environmental self-efficacy, personal agency and social connectivity, as well as minimising helplessness and distress. It further highlights the potential of interventions such as mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), nature connectedness, environmental education, climate cafés, and community participation in transforming climate-related emotional responses into constructive environmental action. A multi-level framework incorporating individual, group, and community interventions is proposed to address the psychological impacts of climate change while promoting sustainable behaviour. Taking this backdrop into consideration the aim of the paper is to highlight and discuss pro-environmental behaviour as a solution focused approach to deal with eco-emotions. The proposed framework may guide future research, environmental education, climate psychology, and policy development, particularly in developing countries such as India.