Two climate scientists on how to use emotion in the climate crisis

From anger to hope, Kate Marvel and Tim Lenton explain how to tackle the tricky feelings aroused by climate change and harness them to take action

With dire environmental warnings and extreme weather events in the news almost every day, it can be tempting to simply avoid thinking about the climate crisis. But how do climate scientists, who must grapple with the harsh reality of our changing planet every day, cope? What can they teach us about processing the powerful emotions provoked by escalating climate change? And are there ways we can use these feelings to our advantage?

New Scientist recently sat down with New York-based climate scientist Kate Marvel and Tim Lenton, a climate scientist at the University of Exeter, UK. Both have spent years modelling how our planet may react to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, and both have recently published books that distil their perspectives on how best to engage with, and tackle, the climate emergency.

Cover photo:  With emissions still rising, how do we feel hope for the future?