Global Sustainability Can Be Defined as \"Meetings

Global sustainability can be defined as "meetings the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." (Oskamp, 2000, p. 373) This can be interpreted to mean that the present generation must not overuse resources, or created problems which will effect future generations. Many see the problem with humans abusing the Earth's resources as a human behavior problem, and therefore psychologists, sociologists, and other social scientists have a role in altering destructive human behavior. Both George Howard and Stuart Oskamp have identified the problems and proposed several ideas on how psychologists can play an important role in designing non-destructive human behavior.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the human race and it's ability to sustain itself. It is important to discuss human behavior that can contribute to climate change, as well as the psychological drivers of these behaviors. For instance, "the link between population and climate change flows through the collective impact of environmentally significant patterns of consumption." (Swim, 2010, p. 52) Therefore, population growth is a major contributor to the increases in carbon dioxide emissions, and human population growth can be understood through the use of psychology.

In order to deal with the human origin of climate change, psychologists and sociologists need to research in order to gain knowledge on the subject, and then educate the public at large as to their findings and recommendations. (Swim, 2011, pp. 6-8) Once scientists have recognized a particular human behavior that has a directly negative influence on climate change, then this information needs to be transferred to the general public. "Psychology can contribute by improving the implementation of each of the major approaches to changing environmentally significant behavior." (Swim, 2010, p. 136) One way to do this is to give climate change a prominent role in the education system.

It has been argued that the human race needs to decrease the amount of carbon dioxide that it emits into the atmosphere. The Kyoto Protocol was one example of an attempt to regulate the amount of carbon dioxide nations could inject into the atmosphere. (Oskamp, 2002, p. 175) But because of the actions of the Bush Administration, the effort has generally failed. Yet, this type of regulation needs to be accomplished, and psychology can be used to alter the way people think about their impact on the environment.

The education system is one way that psychological techniques can be implemented to educate the next generation to the dangers of climate change. First of all, the education system as a whole must make a concerted effort to introduce environmental studies into the curriculum. Then, "popular literature sources can be used in addition to typical textbook materials;" in order to both stimulate the student's attention by using socially popular sources, and relay the most up-to-date information on the subject. (Oskamp, 2002, p. 178) This can best be accomplished through the use of online resources, which must be provided for students by the education system. Students must also be presented with vivid scenarios which can be discussed in class, as well as being present specific environmental problems currently facing society. Then, students must be informed of clear behavioral norms which they should adhere to in their individual and group behavior. Finally, environmental problems must be presented as a war against extinction of the human race, so students will be encouraged to participate in group activism to combat environmental problems. (Oskamp, 2002, pp. 179-181) An emphasis on educating the youth to the dangers and possible solutions to the current climate changes facing the planet is just one possible use of psychology to influence changes in human behavior.