IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i19p8929-d1766858.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

From Denial to Acceptance—Leveraging the Five Stages of Grief to Unlock Climate Action

Author

Listed:
  • Ivo Baselt

    (Research Group Alpine Streams and Natural Hazards, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Werner-Heisenberg Weg 39, 85577 Neubiberg, Germany)

  • Sabine Erber

    (Energy Institute Vorarlberg, Stadtstrasse 33, Campus V, 6850 Dornbirn, Austria)

  • Laurence Monnet

    (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Énergie Environnement, Le Stratège-Péri, 18 Rue Gabriel Péri, 69100 Villeurbanne, France)

  • Frédéric Berger

    (French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), Rue de la Papeterie–BP76 2, 38402 St-Martin-d’Hères, France)

  • Fabio Carnelli

    (EURAC Research, Center for Climate Change and Transformation, Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Lydia Pedoth

    (EURAC Research, Center for Climate Change and Transformation, Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Andrea Moro

    (iiSBE Italia, International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment, Energy Center, Via Borsellino 38/16, 10138 Torino, Italy)

  • Elena Bazzan

    (iiSBE Italia, International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment, Energy Center, Via Borsellino 38/16, 10138 Torino, Italy)

  • Rogelio Bonilla

    (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Énergie Environnement, Le Stratège-Péri, 18 Rue Gabriel Péri, 69100 Villeurbanne, France)

Abstract

Climate change is not only a technical and environmental challenge but also an emotional and psychological one that affects public engagement, policy acceptance, and long-term sustainability. This study presents a conceptual framework based on the Kübler-Ross model from psychotherapy to explore emotional responses to climate change: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Based on a thematic analysis of the interdisciplinary secondary literature and illustrative cases, we analyse how these emotional dynamics influence climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Each stage reveals specific psychological barriers and entry points for communication, resilience-building, and policy design. We argue that emotional readiness is a critical yet underacknowledged factor in sustainable development and societal transformation. Addressing emotional dimensions can support mental health, increase acceptance of climate measures, and improve the alignment between sustainability strategies and public responses. Our findings emphasise the importance of tailoring sustainability communication and policies to different emotional stages to foster inclusive, effective, and lasting climate action.

Suggested Citation

  • Ivo Baselt & Sabine Erber & Laurence Monnet & Frédéric Berger & Fabio Carnelli & Lydia Pedoth & Andrea Moro & Elena Bazzan & Rogelio Bonilla, 2025. "From Denial to Acceptance—Leveraging the Five Stages of Grief to Unlock Climate Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-30, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:19:p:8929-:d:1766858
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/19/8929/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/19/8929/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cisneros, Elías & Kis-Katos, Krisztina & Nuryartono, Nunung, 2021. "Palm oil and the politics of deforestation in Indonesia," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    2. Niki Frantzeskaki & Derk Loorbach & James Meadowcroft, 2012. "Governing societal transitions to sustainability," International Journal of Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 15(1/2), pages 19-36.
    3. Johan Rockström & Will Steffen & Kevin Noone & Åsa Persson & F. Stuart Chapin & Eric F. Lambin & Timothy M. Lenton & Marten Scheffer & Carl Folke & Hans Joachim Schellnhuber & Björn Nykvist & Cynthia , 2009. "A safe operating space for humanity," Nature, Nature, vol. 461(7263), pages 472-475, September.
    4. Jordan Koder & James Dunk & Paul Rhodes, 2023. "Climate Distress: A Review of Current Psychological Research and Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-16, May.
    5. Hannah Comtesse & Verena Ertl & Sophie M. C. Hengst & Rita Rosner & Geert E. Smid, 2021. "Ecological Grief as a Response to Environmental Change: A Mental Health Risk or Functional Response?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-10, January.
    6. Lutz Bornmann & Robin Haunschild & Kevin Boyack & Werner Marx & Jan C Minx, 2022. "How relevant is climate change research for climate change policy? An empirical analysis based on Overton data," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(9), pages 1-24, September.
    7. E. L. F. Schipper & S. S. Maharaj & G. T. Pecl, 2024. "Scientists have emotional responses to climate change too," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 14(10), pages 1010-1012, October.
    8. Fabio Carnelli & Lydia Pedoth, 2024. "Enhancing risk governance by addressing key risk communication barriers during the prevention and preparedness phase in South Tyrol (Italy)," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(2), pages 1538-1547, April.
    9. Erich Wolff & Matthew French & Noor Ilhamsyah & Mere Jane Sawailau & Diego Ramírez-Lovering, 2021. "Collaborating With Communities: Citizen Science Flood Monitoring in Urban Informal Settlements," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(4), pages 351-364.
    10. Rachel Harcourt & Wändi Bruine de Bruin & Suraje Dessai & Andrea Taylor, 2021. "Envisioning Climate Change Adaptation Futures Using Storytelling Workshops," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-16, June.
    11. Peter Frumhoff & Richard Heede & Naomi Oreskes, 2015. "The climate responsibilities of industrial carbon producers," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 157-171, September.
    12. Erich Wolff & Matthew French & Noor Ilhamsyah & Mere Jane Sawailau & Diego Ramírez-Lovering, 2021. "Collaborating With Communities: Citizen Science Flood Monitoring in Urban Informal Settlements," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(4), pages 351-364.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Aurélien Bruel & Jakub Kronenberg & Nadège Troussier & Bertrand Guillaume, 2019. "Linking Industrial Ecology and Ecological Economics: A Theoretical and Empirical Foundation for the Circular Economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 12-21, February.
    2. Mark Seasons, 2021. "The Equity Dimension of Climate Change: Perspectives From the Global North and South," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(4), pages 283-286.
    3. Amy W. Ando, 2022. "Equity and Cost-Effectiveness in Valuation and Action Planning to Preserve Biodiversity," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 83(4), pages 999-1015, December.
    4. Laura Pereira & Timothy Karpouzoglou & Samir Doshi & Niki Frantzeskaki, 2015. "Organising a Safe Space for Navigating Social-Ecological Transformations to Sustainability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-18, May.
    5. Nelson, Ewan & Warren, Peter, 2020. "UK transport decoupling: On track for clean growth in transport?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 39-51.
    6. Richter, Andries & Dakos, Vasilis, 2015. "Profit fluctuations signal eroding resilience of natural resources," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 12-21.
    7. Rostami-Tabar, Bahman & Ali, Mohammad M. & Hong, Tao & Hyndman, Rob J. & Porter, Michael D. & Syntetos, Aris, 2022. "Forecasting for social good," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 1245-1257.
    8. Huiyuan Guan & Yongping Bai & Chunyue Zhang, 2022. "Research on Ecosystem Security and Restoration Pattern of Urban Agglomeration in the Yellow River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-19, September.
    9. Filipa Correia & Philipp Erfruth & Julie Bryhn, 2018. "The 2030 Agenda: The roadmap to GlobALLizaton," Working Papers 156, United Nations, Department of Economics and Social Affairs.
    10. Birgit Kopainsky & Anita Frehner & Adrian Müller, 2020. "Sustainable and healthy diets: Synergies and trade‐offs in Switzerland," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(6), pages 908-927, November.
    11. Hervé Corvellec & Johan Hultman & Anne Jerneck & Susanne Arvidsson & Johan Ekroos & Niklas Wahlberg & Timothy W. Luke, 2021. "Resourcification: A non‐essentialist theory of resources for sustainable development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(6), pages 1249-1256, November.
    12. Reichardt, Kristin & Rogge, Karoline S. & Negro, Simona, 2015. "Unpacking the policy processes for addressing systemic problems: The case of the technological innovation system of offshore wind in Germany," Working Papers "Sustainability and Innovation" S2/2015, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI).
    13. Pérez-Sánchez, Laura & Velasco-Fernández, Raúl & Giampietro, Mario, 2021. "The international division of labor and embodied working time in trade for the US, the EU and China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    14. Xiaoyue Qiu & Yaming Zhuang & Xiaqun Liu, 2025. "Climate Risk and Corporate Debt Financing: Evidence from Chinese A-Share-Listed Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-27, April.
    15. Tetsuya Tsurumi & Shunsuke Managi, 2025. "Income and Subjective Well-Being: The Importance of Index Choice for Sustainable Economic Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-32, June.
    16. Islam, Moinul & Kotani, Koji & Managi, Shunsuke, 2016. "Climate perception and flood mitigation cooperation: A Bangladesh case study," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 117-133.
    17. Yutong Zhang & Wei Zhou & Danxue Luo, 2023. "The Relationship Research between Biodiversity Conservation and Economic Growth: From Multi-Level Attempts to Key Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, February.
    18. Carina Mueller & Christopher West & Mairon G. Bastos Lima & Bob Doherty, 2023. "Demand-Side Actors in Agricultural Supply Chain Sustainability: An Assessment of Motivations for Action, Implementation Challenges, and Research Frontiers," World, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-20, September.
    19. Janet Judy McIntyre‐Mills, 2013. "Anthropocentrism and Well‐being: A Way Out of the Lobster Pot?," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 136-155, March.
    20. Hametner, Markus, 2022. "Economics without ecology: How the SDGs fail to align socioeconomic development with environmental sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:19:p:8929-:d:1766858. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.