Upcoming Events
June Online Chapter Meeting
Wednesday June 10th 7pm
Speaker: Dr Christie Manning
Topic: The Psychology of Climate Change
Climate change is no longer a distant, hypothetical threat. Its impacts are increasingly obvious around the world. Yet, despite growing acknowledgement of the climate crisis, few Americans are taking significant personal action, and only a small minority are involved in civic/collective efforts to address the issue.
In this talk, I'll share a psychological perspective on the human behavioral causes of, and solutions to, climate damage. How does our changing climate affect people around the world, and how may it affect human society and human wellbeing in the long term? I'll draw upon the many sub-fields of psychology (evolutionary, biological, cognitive, social, industrial/organizational) to examine the question, "Why are we not doing enough to address the global climate crisis?”. I'll also share psychologically-informed ideas for how to encourage action - not only at the individual level (e.g., personal behaviors such as driving less, eating less meat, or moving to a super-insulated home) - but at the collective level (e.g., joining an organization such as climate reality, attending protests, and/or pushing policy makers and corporate leaders for climate action).
About the Speaker: Dr. Christie Manning (she/her) received her PhD in cognitive and biological psychology from the University of Minnesota and her BSc in Engineering Psychology from Tufts University. She has taught in the Environmental Studies Department at Macalester College since 2008. Christie’s research focuses on how people respond to climate change and climate injustice, and she is particularly interested in the psychological circumstances that motivate community-level action. Her recent co-authored publications include a forthcoming report from the American Psychological Association and ecoAmerica, Organizations and Climate Action, a 2026 academic textbook, Psychology for Sustainability, 6th edition, and a 2026 edited volume, Psychology and Climate Change: Human Perceptions, Impacts, and Responses. Christie is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. In her personal life, she loves to ride her bike and support local social and climate justice initiatives.
July Online Chapter Meeting
Wednesday July 8th 7pm
Topic: Sustaining Mental Health Amid the Climate Crisis
Speaker: Carson Brown, MD
Many people are feeling the psychological impacts of anxiety, despair, grief, and trauma as they navigate the layered impacts of climate change and social injustice. These are normal, important responses to the reality of the crisis, and there are supportive techniques and strategies to honor the emotions, prevent burnout, and promote creativity and connection. We will explore the intersection of mental health and climate change and learn ways to channel the intense feelings of eco-anxiety into meaning-making and action.
About the Speaker: Carson Brown, MD, is an integrative psychiatrist in private practice in the Twin Cities. She moved to Minnesota from the San Francisco Bay Area in 2021 in part due to climate change. She has presented about clinical approaches to climate distress at the American Psychiatric Association, Midwest Climate Summit, Minnesota Psychiatric Society, and many local environmental organizations and mental health providers. Dr. Brown uses The Work That Reconnects, developed by Joanna Macy, as a framework for addressing eco-anxiety and focuses on the interactions between systems of oppression, climate change, and mental health.
Note: Chapter meeting invitations are sent to all current chapter members a few days before the event. Membership is free and open to all trained Climate Reality Leaders and the public. If you join (https://www.climaterealitymsp.com/join) less than a week before a meeting or event, please email info@climaterealitymsp.com and ask for an invitation or follow the registration link on this page.