For the past decade, Professor Ben Newell from the University of New South Wales has researched climate change psychology, with his work focusing primarily on how to tackle the preconceived notions people have which cloud their decision-making in the face of an uncertain future.

He suggests that the information we consumed about natural disasters influence how ‘psychologically distant’ people feel about climate change.
However, despite the increasing risks of climate change and concerns that people who are psychologically distant to the problem might “switch off”, Prof. Newell says he is still hopeful the situation will improve for the good of the planet and future generations.

Professor Ben Newell joined to Daily to discuss.