Within UK climate policy, research, and organizing efforts, inclusivity has been a longstanding challenge. A prevailing assumption among environmental organizations and policy actors was that climate change held limited concern for people of colour. Contrary to this belief, our groundbreaking study of individuals from diverse backgrounds has unveiled a stark reality.
The SPOTLIGHT project presents findings that challenge preconceived notions. An overwhelming majority of people of colour in the UK acknowledge climate change as a human-caused reality, are highly concerned about its effects, and have altered their lifestyles to reduce environmental impacts. Furthermore, the findings underscore the lack of diversity in the environmental sector with only one in five participants having participated as members in environmental organizations. Most respondents hadn't previously encountered the term ‘climate justice’, but they support its core principles; understanding that climate change disproportionately affects the poor, exacerbates inequalities, and demands greater representation from frontline communities in climate solutions.
In this session, Charles will unpack how the study sheds light on climate change engagement among people of colour in the UK, emphasizing the need for greater inclusivity, representation, and new patterns of climate change advocacy and policy creation.
About Charles Ogunbode
Dr. Charles Ogunbode is an Assistant Professor in Applied Psychology at the University of Nottingham, UK. Charles studies social and psychological influences that shape people’s beliefs, emotional responses and action tendencies on environmental issues. His research spans a range of topics including climate anxiety and wellbeing, climate justice, the roles of extreme weather experiences and information exposure in public engagement with climate change, as well as investigating how climate change impacts vulnerable and marginalized groups (including ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and people living in low-income communities).
Charles holds a PhD and M. Res in Psychology from University of St. Andrews.