Synopsis

Countries need to both mitigate climate change and adapt to it, but limited resources mean one may get prioritised over the other. This research asks why, and finds that mitigation is seen as more desirable (having a more attractive goal, with global benefits), while adaptation is seen as more feasible (being easier to act on, with localised benefits). This research also finds that perspective matters: asking someone to think like a policymaker rather than a citizen shifts their focus toward feasibility, which shifts favour toward adaptation over mitigation. The findings suggest effective advocacy and communication requires speaking to both what’s desirable and what’s feasible.

Speaker

Dr Shu Tian Ng is a Research Fellow at LKYCIC under the Chan Heng Chee Research Fellowship. She holds a PhD in Psychology from Singapore Management University and a BA in Environmental Studies from the National University of Singapore. An environmental psychologist, she studies the psychological drivers behind pro-environmental behaviour and decision-making. Her research is centred on how to create societies that support both human and environmental wellbeing. It covers diverse topics, including religiosity, food practices, and climate policy, published in journals such as the Journal of Environmental Psychology, Appetite, and Sustainable Development.