Before he shredded Metallica‘s “Master of Puppets” in the Upside Down, Joseph Quinn was rocking to Nirvana.
The actor, who plays the Dungeons & Dragons-loving metalhead Eddie Munson in the latest season of Stranger Things, tells Metal Hammer that the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” outfit was his “first proper band obsession.”
“I was obsessed with Kurt Cobain and had all of his posters in my wall,” Quinn reveals. “It’s kind of cliché, but it’s true.”
Quinn also names Jimi Hendrix as one of his “guitar heroes,” sharing, “I was always very enamored with him.”
When it came to preparing to play Eddie, though, Quinn turned to the heavy stuff.
“I listened to Master of Reality by Black Sabbath over and over,” Quinn says. “Master of Puppets, as well, Slayer … all that kind of stuff. That was my way into that whole world, really. Black Sabbath were my guys, and Led Zeppelin, too, but I guess they’re less metal.”
Quinn’s performance of Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” in the season 4 finale of Stranger Things led to renewed interest in the 1986 thrash classic, which made its first appearance on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart following the episode’s premiere. The season also made a resurgent hit out of Kate Bush‘s “Running Up That Hill,” which has run up all the way to the top five on the Hot 100.
Stranger Things season 4 is streaming now on Netflix.
Goo Goo Dolls are on tour in support of their new album, Chaos In Bloom. As the title of the album suggests, some of the songs are about the general topsy-turvy state of the world over the past couple of years. And as front man John Rzeznik explains, there was no shortage of material to inspire him.
“Y’know, these are really interesting times,” he tells ABC Audio. “Not necessarily good times, but there was a lot to draw from.” In fact, at one point, he says, he opened the door of his L.A. recording studio and literally found himself in the middle of a protest on Sunset Boulevard.
“Yeah, the album covers those those kind of topics…the world falling apart, and then trying to be hopeful,” he notes. “But I mean, there’s just so much going on. It was hard not to comment on it in some kind of way.”
Protests weren’t the only reason why making Chaos In Bloom was challenging. John damaged his voice and then his elbow, so he couldn’t sing or play the guitar for a while, and four out of five band members got COVID. But the album’s out, and a few new songs — “Going Crazy,” “Yeah, I Like You” and “War” — are now part of the set list.
“I try to get into the new songs really quickly so that nobody has a chance to leave to go to the bathroom,” John laughs. He says overall, the tour, which was postponed several times due to COVID, has been a great experience.
“The shows have been incredible…the audience has been great. And I think I think being away for a couple years helped that,” John says. “People are in this frame of mind…they just want to be out and having a good time.”
Rod Wave’s Beautiful Mind debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart dated August 27, marking his second release to debut atop the chart following his 2021 release, SoulFly.
Megan Thee Stallion also showed up in top 10 of the Billboard 200 at no. 4 with Traumazine, becoming her fifth top 10, all earned consecutively.
The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album.
Tyler Hubbard‘s inviting you to go Dancin’ in the Country as he gets ready for his fall tour.
The Florida Georgia Line frontman’s full-length debut is set to arrive in early 2023, but once he got the invitation to head out with a certain Aussie superstar, he couldn’t help but unleash the Dancin’ EP.
“I’m finished with the album,” Tyler explains. “I have the whole thing mixed and mastered and all 18 songs are done. So I’m sitting on them, and I just really … didn’t want to wait any longer until January.”
“But then we got the Keith [Urban] tour,” he continues, “and I thought, ‘We’ve gotta put some songs out because I want the fans to know some songs that I’m gonna play on tour.'” In order to support the tour, he says they decided to release more music so fans can get to know the songs and “hopefully be able to sing along with when I’m out with Keith.”
Not only will Tyler hit the road with Keith, but the “Brown Eyes Baby” guitar slinger also co-wrote the EP’s title track. So will Keith play it with him on tour? Tyler promises he’ll try to talk Keith into making an appearance. “He’s such a cool dude … And yeah, no telling, he’ll probably come out and play the whole set with me, knowing Keith.”
“I love him,” the “5 Foot 9” hitmaker adds. “He’s awesome. And it was so much fun working with him and getting to write this song. It’s actually the first song we’ve written together, so I’m excited to write some more on the road this fall.”
The Speed of Now World Tour kicks off September 3 in Mountain View, California.
Former Fleetwood Mac singer/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham has announced plans for a new fall U.S. solo tour, which features 17 dates at venues throughout the Eastern U.S., as well as some gigs in the Midwest.
The outing kicks off October 26 in Bristol, Tennessee, and runs through a November 19 show in Augusta, Georgia.
Earlier this year, Buckingham canceled a trio of concerts at the end of his spring U.S. tour leg — including an April 30 performance in Louisville, Kentucky — because he and members of his touring party contracted COVID-19. Lindsey now has lined up a new show in Louisville, on October 27, but at a different venue.
The new U.S. tour takes place after Buckingham’s fall European trek, which originally was scheduled for late spring, but was postponed because Lindsey was still recovering from COVID at the time.
The forthcoming European outing is mapped out from a September 19 concert in Paris through an October 6 show in Dublin.
Visit LindseyBuckingham.com to check out Buckingham’s full schedule and for information about how to purchase tickets to the concerts.
Lindsey’s shows are in support of his latest solo studio album, a self-titled effort that was released in September 2021.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck tied the knot for a second time at Affleck’s estate in Riceboro, Georgia on Saturday in front of friends and family.
“Guests were gathering at The Perry Lane Hotel [in Savannah] to head to Jennifer and Ben’s wedding.” a source tells Entertainment Weekly. “Everyone is dressed in white with most women in white dresses and gowns, and most men in white suits, a majority in linen material, but the dress code features a wide variety. Some men are in white shorts and sneakers and there is a female guest in a white fringe leather jacket and sparkly cowboy hat.”
The guest list included filmmaker Kevin Smith, who ditched his signature jerseys in favor of a white t-shirt, shorts and loafers, topped off with a white vest and jacket.
“This is as formal as I’ve been dressed since maybe my First Communion when I was 7,” he tweeted.
Last month, J-Lo and Ben — who were first engaged in 2002, but called off the wedding — ran off to Las Vegas and got hitched at the Little White Wedding chapel.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck tied the knot for a second time at Affleck’s estate in Riceboro, Georgia on Saturday in front of friends and family.
“Guests were gathering at The Perry Lane Hotel [in Savannah] to head to Jennifer and Ben’s wedding.” a source tells Entertainment Weekly. “Everyone is dressed in white with most women in white dresses and gowns, and most men in white suits, a majority in linen material, but the dress code features a wide variety. Some men are in white shorts and sneakers and there is a female guest in a white fringe leather jacket and sparkly cowboy hat.”
The guest list included filmmaker Kevin Smith, who ditched his signature jerseys in favor of a white t-shirt, shorts and loafers, topped off with a white vest and jacket.
“This is as formal as I’ve been dressed since maybe my First Communion when I was 7,” he tweeted.
Last month, J-Lo and Ben — who were first engaged in 2002, but called off the wedding — ran off to Las Vegas and got hitched at the Little White Wedding chapel.
(MOAB, Utah) — Monsoon rains are causing a flash flooding threat to linger over a large swath of the Western U.S. following several flooding events overnight.
Flash flood events were reported over the desert Southwest Saturday night into Sunday morning, with Moab, Utah, experiencing flooding that spilled from streets to businesses and mud piling up on storefronts.
In New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns National Park, more than 100 people were evacuated after being stuck for hours due to impassable roadways.
More than 12 million people from Arizona to Louisiana were under flood alerts on Sunday morning.
Drought conditions in the region are causing the sudden burst of rain to mix with the parched soil as if it were concrete, leading to flash flooding.
The megadrought combined with record heat is also increasing fire threats farther west.
Dry conditions and hot temperatures are continuing in the Pacific Northwest. Fire weather watches have been ordered for northeastern Oregon and southern Washington due to the potential for abundant lightning, and a fast-growing wildfire has sparked in the Klamath National Forest in Northern California.
Farther south, record highs were tied in Redding and Sacramento, California, on Saturday at 110 degrees and 106 degrees, respectively.
Hot temperatures are expected to continue in the region on Sunday.
(NEW YORK) — Buying an electric vehicle for the first time may be harder than ever these days.
The choices are no longer Tesla, Tesla, Tesla. There are pickup trucks, SUVs, crossovers, sedans, sports cars and hatches available from nearly every automaker. Seventy-two models (battery, plug-in hybrid, fuel cell) are currently on the market with more launching later this year and next.
Washington lawmakers threw another wrench into the EV equation with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. Consumers are now wondering if that EV they’ve been eyeing still qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit. The Department of Transportation on Tuesday launched a site to help confused consumers navigate the new restrictions on EV tax credits.
Plus, with national fuel prices below $4 a gallon, limited inventory at dealerships and a public charging network that has been derided, what will drivers decide?
“There is a growing interest and awareness of EVs,” Ed Kim, president of consulting firm AutoPacific, told ABC News. “The biggest reason people buy an EV is because they want the coolest new tech. Tesla still has a stronghold on the market — 80% of EV sales last year were Teslas — but that will be changing in the coming years.”
According to a recent survey commissioned by Polestar, the Swedish electric performance brand, 55% of U.S. drivers purchase electric vehicles for reasons other than environmental benefits.
“In-vehicle technology, seamless connectivity and infotainment system offerings have been named as the most important decisions for consumers switching to an electric car from an internal-combustion vehicle,” the company said.
Industry watchers agree that affordable, mass-market EVs will accelerate sales and help meet President Joe Biden’s electrification goals. How has the EV game changed and which models are quickly becoming popular with drivers?
Inflation Reduction Act
The act, which is now law, changes the categories and requirements for EV tax credits. The longtime automaker sales cap of 200,000 units has been lifted; that means Tesla, General Motors and Toyota can again offer the $7,500 federal credit to motorists (the credit ends by December 2032). Used EVs are now eligible for up to a $4,000 tax credit — a first. EVs that exceed $55,000 in MSRP for sedans and $80,000 for trucks, vans and SUVs are excluded from the credit; the government also added credit caps on a buyer’s income.
The law also puts strict preconditions on where an EV is assembled and the sourcing of cobalt, nickel and lithium ion — key components of an EV’s battery that are mined in various parts of the world. Few automakers, if any, can meet these demands, according to industry watchers.
“The industry is trying to figure this all out,” John Loehr, a managing director in the automotive and industrial practice at AlixPartners, told ABC News. “The requirements on extraction in minerals will be most challenging part for automakers to accommodate.”
The law states that the mining of minerals has to take place domestically or in a country where the U.S. has a free trade agreement. Right now these minerals are largely extracted outside North America, Loehr said. There are multiple lithium deposits in California and a nickel reserve in Minnesota but “it takes time to develop mines,” he said. “There are lots of local and environmental regulations.”
Before the bill was signed by Biden, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an industry trade group, said the bill would “immediately reduce (by a lot) the number of qualifying electric vehicles available to consumers for purchase with the tax credit.”
“Seventy percent of those EVs would immediately become ineligible when the bill passes and none would qualify for the full credit when additional sourcing requirements go into effect. Zero,” according to John Bozzella, the alliance’s president and CEO.
Kim agreed that “virtually none” of the EVs sold now will qualify for the full tax credit and he expects rapid growth of battery pack manufacturing in the U.S.
John Voelcker, contributing editor at Car and Driver, sees the upside to sourcing critical minerals and components here in the U.S. though he acknowledged that mining “is not consequence free.”
“China has every intent to dominate that supply chain,” he told ABC News. “If you’re an automaker, do you want to rely on China for 30%-40% of your new vehicle’s value?”
As for the tax credit, it only matters to a very small percentage of EV owners, Voelcker argued. Teslas continue to be in high demand even though the automaker reached the 200,000 sales cap in July of 2018.
“Tesla still sells the bulk of EVs because it has a rock solid, very reliable, nationwide DC Fast charging network that always works. No one else has that,” he said, adding, “The credit is not a deciding factor — especially for people who can buy a [Porsche] Taycan.”
Added Loehr: “Automakers will invest over half a trillion dollars over the next five years on vehicle electrification. There is lots of excitement around these high-end EVs. The question is: Can they take off in the mass market?”
The EVs making waves with consumers:
Ford F-150 Lightning
Ford Motor’s F-150 Lightning pickup truck will likely be a blockbuster for the Dearborn automaker. One of the first EV trucks to hit the market, Ford has sold more than 4,400 Lightnings in the first six months of 2022 and has 200,000 reservations from interested buyers. Ford said its share of the U.S. EV market hit a record 10.9% in July (Ford also sells the Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit van).
“The Lightning rides and handles so much better than the regular F-150,” said Kim. “The power and torque are stupendous … it has a low center of gravity and feels more planted to the ground and stable when driving it.”
He went on, “This a well thought-out product and a reflection of the fact that Ford understands the truck customer better than anyone else.”
The EV truck market has only begun to heat up; General Motors has shown a prototype of its all-electric Silverado truck and GM’s Hummer EV has been a sales success, with reservations sold out until 2024. There is also the Rivian R1T and Ram 1500 EV that’s supposedly coming in 2024.
Kim said pickup owners tend to be affluent and are not price sensitive, which is good news for Ford. The Lightning will now cost between $6,000 to $8,500 more depending on battery size and trim, bringing the MSRP to $96,874 for a Platinum version with an extended-range battery pack. Ford blamed rising materials costs for the price hike, effective on 2023 orders.
Base price: $39,947, 230 miles of range.
Kia EV6
It’s very likely you’ve seen a Kia EV6 or two or three on your local streets this summer. The new electric car has been an instant hit with drivers since its launch this spring.
“We have a group of buyers who love the design, the tech, the way it charges and all the cool features,” Steve Kosowski, manager of long range planning at Kia, told ABC News.
“And it’s not a Tesla,” he added.
Kia has sold EVs before (the Soul, Nero) but the seductive EV6 was engineered to be solely an EV, meaning the hatchback will not be available with an internal combustion engine.
“The EV6 marks a pivotal moment for Kia from an engineering and an aesthetics standpoint,” said Kosowski. “This car makes a statement for the brand.”
More than 10,000 EV6s have been sold this year in the U.S., with California topping the list. Kosowski, however, said there has been interest from all pockets of the country. The car’s 800-volt architecture also makes it easy to charge; the battery goes from 10%-80% (up to 217 miles range) in under 18 minutes when hooked to a DC Fast charger.
The EV6, along with its automotive cousin, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, could be the EVs that get more mainstream consumers behind electrification.
“They’re great vehicles and the praise is well deserved,” said Kim. “They get good range, good performance and have an eye-catching styling … and no one at their price point offers that ultra fast charging capability.”
Base price: $41,400, 310 miles of range.
Volvo C40 and XC40 Recharge
Swedish luxury carmaker Volvo is one of a handful of automakers transitioning to an all-electric model lineup. By 2030, all Volvos will come sans engine. For now, U.S. consumers have two EV choices: the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge, both of which have received top marks for their driving capabilities.
“The regenerative braking system is very advanced … the vehicles have a very refined drivetrain,” Jim Nichols, head of product and technology at Volvo USA, told ABC News. “We’ve been [offering] plug-in hybrids for several years now and have been able to smooth out the braking and the packaging of the batteries.”
He added, “There are no deviations in the C40 or XC40 from our standard vehicles. There are no compromises with interior or exterior styling.”
The two crossovers are built in Belgium. Volvo’s upcoming all-electric SUV that can seat seven will be manufactured at the company’s plant in Charlestown, South Carolina.
“We’re looking at the [IRA] legislation very closely … it remains to be seen what impact a credit is going to have on EV adoption for Volvo,” Nichols said.
Volvo also announced a pilot program with Starbucks and ChargePoint to add DC Fast chargers at various Starbucks locations. The 1,350-mile route spans from Denver, Colorado, to Seattle, Washington, and charging will be free for Volvo owners.
“That route is underserved at that moment [for EV owners],” Alex Trippi, head of electrification for Volvo USA, told ABC News. “We want charging your car to be as easy as getting a cup of coffee.”
The first charging station will be “powered up soon,” he added, noting that the program may be expanded nationally.
C40 Recharge base price: $55,300, 226 miles of range. XC40 Recharge base price: $53,500, 223 miles of range.
BMW iX and i4
BMW’s latest electric models — the iX SUV and i4 sedan — are a far departure from the i3, the automaker’s divisive, pint-size hatch that was officially retired in 2021 after a nine-year run. The athletic iX and comely i4 grand coupe come with the vertical “nostrils” found on almost every new BMW and fans of the brand will be familiar with iDrive, the company’s infotainment system. Owners of an i4 or iX receive three years of free 30-minute charging sessions at any Electrify America location, according to a BMW spokesperson. The deal sweetens for owners of the upcoming i7 sedan, who will receive unlimited charging sessions for three years.
BMW packed the iX and i4 with insane power and luxury amenities (all-wheel drive is available too). The iX can travel from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds and the electric motors produce 516 horsepower (that number jumps to over 600 hp in the iX M60 model, hang on tight passengers!). The i4, like the traditional 4 Series Grand Coupe, offers a refined, civilized experience though the fun factor gets going with the i4 M50, which can reach 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, making it a touch faster than an M3 Competition.
Half of BMW’s sales will be electric by 2030, according to company executives. The German automaker may also start manufacturing EVs at its Spartanburg, South Carolina, facility, BMW’s largest manufacturing plant in the world, the spokesperson noted.
“It would be safe to assume that EV production will come to the U.S. at some point,” the spokesperson said.
BMW has also been at the forefront of ethical raw materials sourcing, aiming to achieve “complete transparency in the origin and mining methods of the material.”
“The company purchases lithium and cobalt directly and makes it available to battery cell manufacturers,” the spokesperson said.
iX base price: $84,100, 324 miles of range. i4 base price: $55,900, 301 miles of range.
Mercedes-Benz EQS
The first EV from the German luxury brand, the handsome EQS sedan quickly got recognized for its Hyperscreen — a curved, digital screen that stretches 56 inches from left to right A-Pillars. Mercedes packed the sleek EQS with Artificial intelligence (AI) and learn-capable software that makes personalized suggestions for a variety of functions to the driver. The large sedan’s steering angle at the rear axle is up to 10 degrees, allowing it to maneuver like a compact car. Like Tesla, Mercedes added a “Power Nap” mode, so a driver can get shut-eye as the EQS charges. According to Mercedes, the program has three phases — falling asleep, sleeping and waking up — which can increase the driver’s performance post-vehicle charge.
Voelcker said the EQS cabin was “wonderful” though the vehicle swiftly burned through range in upstate New York, where he test drove the vehicle last winter. The EQS has an EPA-estimated 340-350 miles of range, depending on the trim.
The U.S. is the No. 1 market worldwide for the EQS since its launch in late 2021, Mercedes said. The company’s next EV is the EQS SUV, which will be built at the company’s plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. A spokesperson for the brand said Mercedes is actively reviewing the Inflation Reduction Act and is fully committed to an “electric future.”
(WASHINGTON) — As the climate crisis has worsened, experts have put forth numerous solutions to curb greenhouse gas emissions and stop rising temperatures. Could shaming be one of them?
Recently, celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Taylor Swift and Drake have been getting flack on social media for how often they fly their private jets.
But criticism of these individuals for their jet use is not enough, some say. When global transportation came to a halt in 2020, total emissions of carbon dioxide dropped 7%, the reduction needed per year to achieve the Paris Agreement’s climate goals by 2030 — keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius from preindustrial levels and ideally limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius from preindustrial levels.
Climate scientists have long contended that highlighting individual actions, rather than those of wider industries that contribute to the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions, is not the way to effectively mitigate climate change.
However, collective action across large scales can make a difference, experts say.
“You start influencing family members, coworkers and neighbors, and collectively that drives markets — that sets the social norms that tell us what society approves of,” Lise Van Susteren, a general and forensic psychiatrist who researched how climate change has affected the psychological health of young people, told ABC News.
The Inflation Reduction Act, which President Joe Biden signed this month, is one example of a collective action geared towards climate change. The bill includes billions of dollars in consumer incentives to buy energy efficient vehicles and appliances, as well as tax credits and other incentives for cleaner energy production.
How can people be influenced to address the climate crisis? Here is what other experts had to say:
People default to focusing on individual action
With the uptick in extreme weather events, such as devastating wildfires, deadly flooding and more intense hurricanes, people are beginning to feel more anxious, Elisa Aaltola, a senior researcher in philosophy at the University of Turku in Finland, who authored a study last year on whether climate shame could be used as a method of moral cultivation, told ABC News.
Naturally, that anxiety will force people to seek responsibility and locate the people who should change their actions, she said.
Because the issues surrounding climate change are so complex, especially the doom and gloom that accompanies an uncertain future, people tend to gravitate toward individual actions rather than the necessary systemic change, Renee Lertzman, the founder of climate activism platform Project InsideOut, told ABC News.
People concerned about the climate crisis should remember that these systems already in place were set up for them and they are not to blame, Astrid Caldas, a senior climate scientist at nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists, told ABC News.
Empathy can be a constructive solution
For some people, depending on their temperament, current behaviors and general attitude toward the world, shaming might work effectively, Van Susteran said.
“When you are publicly shamed, what you are doing is you are confronting the fear that you will be ostracized,” she said.
But Lertzman believes that while shame can be productive in the short-term, it is difficult to base any kind of meaningful change and transformation on shame because it’ll eventually cause burnout.
“It takes us into an incredibly unproductive spiral,” which will then cause people on the receiving end to shut down and tune out, Lertzman said.
Beyond the shaming is the necessity for a space for people to be attuned and have empathy for other people’s lived experiences and identities.
“We need to openly and explicitly acknowledge the experience that people may be having — of vulnerability, of feeling destabilized, of feeling fear of feeling left out of the conversation, of feeling aggrieved, of feeling disenfranchised,” Lertzman said.
Who the shaming is directed at matters
In parts of Europe, the term “flight shame” was coined several years ago to shame ordinary people who are perceived to fly too much — or even just fly at all, Aaltola said.
The public discord has focused more and more on personal embarrassment regarding practices that could be contributing to the climate crisis, she said.
The criticism hurled at the A-listers is a result of the connection made linking the 1% and the climate crisis, Jennifer Jacquet, an associate professor of environmental studies at New York University, told ABC News. Flying on a private jet used to be a private, and now images of the conspicuous consumption of private jets are being plastered across social platforms, she said.
Focusing on those who have wealth and political power, as well as the corporations causing the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions, can be effective, some experts say.
Celebrities, with their millions of followers, are in a unique position to serve as a catalyst for the climate movement, Christy Denckla, an assistant professor of social and behavioral sciences at Harvard University, told ABC News.
Recent targets of criticism have offered various defenses for their use of private jets.
Drake defended a series of short flights on his jet, writing on Instagram that the plane was just being moved for storage during those flights. “This is just them moving planes to whatever airport they are being stored at for anyone who was interested in the logistics … nobody takes that flight,” he wrote.
A spokesperson for Taylor Swift recently told Rolling Stone in response to the criticism, “Taylor’s jet is loaned out regularly to other individuals. To attribute most or all of these trips to her is blatantly incorrect.”
Kylie Jenner did not offer a public response after being criticized for posing in front of two jets with boyfriend Travis Scott.
ABC News could not immediately reach a representative for Jenner for comment.
But shaming works best when we don’t go and shame every person who does something that we deemed to be morally inadvisable,” Aaltola said.
Shame without solutions is fruitless
Discussions on celebrity extravagance should be leveraged as a conversation starter, experts say. The conversation should be on the impact of air travel, how to shift lifestyle changes to support a healthier environment and the complex dilemmas that would cause a wealthier individual to need to fly private.
The focus shouldn’t be on making the target feel terrible as a person but rather emphasizing what can be learned from the emotion — the “moral constructiveness” of shame, Aaltola said.
There’s a difference between shaming, leading by example and advocacy, Van Susteran said. Nuanced and sophisticated approaches that encourage unity, rather than shame, which provokes a primitive sense of survival, may be a better approach, she added.
Awareness of climate action psychology is needed
The cycle of transforming shame and guilt around the climate crisis to positivity can feel like “a bit of a swirl,” Lertzman said.
Massive change is often disruptive and unsettling, and people will need to learn how to navigate through the eventual lifestyle alterations needed to curb emissions, experts say.
One vital aspect of shame is the role it plays in defining humanity and how society wants to advance into the future, Aaltola said, adding that Western and industrialized nations tend to avoid the feeling of shame rather than viewing it as an educational tool.
“Shame comes with this benefit,” she said. “It can make us rethink who we are in relation to the rest of nature.”
