The Adaptive Mind: Psychosocial Support for Professionals Working on the Frontlines of Climate Change
Abstract
With climate change impacts being witnessed and experienced around the globe now, the adaptation imperative - even while continuing to radically reduce emissions - is growing louder. In practical reality, the fear that adaptation talk undermines mitigation needs is drowned in the pressing need to address growing problems and respond to impacts and disasters. But the scientific outlook is dark; bureaucratic, financial and political hurdles are enormous; and public grievances are taxing for those whose daily job it is to plan for and realize adaptation actions on the ground. Who takes care of those who take of us?
This paper presents initial findings from a survey of adaptation professionals working on the frontlines of climate change. The survey focuses on assessing the growing demands on, pressures experienced by, and psychosocial support needs of these professionals. Survey participants simultaneously face a) severe climate change impacts themselves (given that they often live in the communities they serve), while b) having the professional obligation (and desire) to support their communities as they are affected by climate change impacts and potentially face very difficult choices. Findings suggest that there is - already in 2018/19, i.e., long before the worst impacts have unfolded - sadness, fear, worry, and burn-out, albeit rarely spoken about in public. This has significant consequences for the ability of adaptation professionals to serve their stakeholders effectively over the long haul. These initial findings serve as motivation and baseline for efforts aimed at developing professional development opportunities and support for adaptation professionals, including peer support networks, trainings, and resources, and shifts in organizational culture that embraces the psychosocial needs of their employees as equal to the common emphasis on technical skill-building and professional development.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.U13B..06M
- Keywords:
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- 0230 Impacts of climate change: human health;
- GEOHEALTH;
- 1904 Community standards;
- INFORMATICS;
- 4323 Human impact;
- NATURAL HAZARDS;
- 6349 General or miscellaneous;
- POLICY SCIENCES & PUBLIC ISSUES