World scientists’ warning: The behavioural crisis driving ecological overshoot

Abstract

Previously, anthropogenic ecological overshoot has been identified as a fundamental cause of the myriad symptoms we see around the globe today from biodiversity loss and ocean acidification to the disturbing rise in novel entities and climate change. In the present paper, we have examined this more deeply, and explore the behavioural drivers of overshoot, providing evidence that overshoot is itself a symptom of a deeper, more subversive modern crisis of human behaviour. We work to name and frame this crisis as ‘the Human Behavioural Crisis’ and propose the crisis be recognised globally as a critical intervention point for tackling ecological overshoot. We demonstrate how current interventions are largely physical, resource intensive, slow-moving and focused on addressing the symptoms of ecological overshoot (such as climate change) rather than the distal cause (maladaptive behaviours). We argue that even in the best-case scenarios, symptom-level interventions are unlikely to avoid catastrophe or achieve more than ephemeral progress. We explore three drivers of the behavioural crisis in depth: economic growth; marketing; and pronatalism. These three drivers directly impact the three ‘levers’ of overshoot: consumption, waste and population. We demonstrate how the maladaptive behaviours of overshoot stemming from these three drivers have been catalysed and perpetuated by the intentional exploitation of previously adaptive human impulses. In the final sections of this paper, we propose an interdisciplinary emergency response to the behavioural crisis by, amongst other things, the shifting of social norms relating to reproduction, consumption and waste. We seek to highlight a critical disconnect that is an ongoing societal gulf in communication between those that know such as scientists working within limits to growth, and those members of the citizenry, largely influenced by social scientists and industry, that must act.

The climate-nature emergency and higher education

“…These three drivers directly impact the three ‘levers’ of overshoot: consumption, waste and population. We demonstrate how the maladaptive behaviours of overshoot stemming from these three drivers have been catalysed and perpetuated by the intentional exploitation of previously adaptive human impulses… we propose an interdisciplinary emergency response to the behavioural crisis by, amongst other things, the shifting of social norms relating to reproduction, consumption and waste (Merz et al, 2023, p. 1).…”

A concept for international societally relevant microbiology education and microbiology knowledge promulgation in society

“…msf. ch/ en/ media/ 4711; Barnard et al, 2021;Merz et al, 2023). Fundamental changes will not only require new policies but also societal acceptance of the policies.…”

“…Sustainable development and effectively confronting some of the major humanitarian and planetary challenges will require fundamental changes in the way things are done, financed and regulated (https://international-review.icrc.org/articles/re-evaluating-ihl-in-a-triple-planetary-crisis-924; https://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/2022-11/20221108_ClimateSmartFinance.pdf; https://www.msf.ch/en/media/4711; Barnard et al., 2021; Merz et al., 2023). Fundamental changes will not only require new policies but also societal acceptance of the policies.…”

Dietary behaviour is key to human and planetary health

“…There is a long way to go to ensure that we do not experience ecological overshoot (consuming above the planet’s capacity). A recent article highlighted that successfully tackling the climate crisis over the next decades will be impossible without changing behaviour and changing the drivers of consumers’ behaviour ( 1 ) . Successful ways of changing relevant food-related behaviours such as reducing meat consumption and reducing food waste (particularly animal-based food waste) are key to tackling the climate crisis.…”