The issues that face our society can seem overwhelming at times, particularly when considering the scope and urgency of the sustainability challenge. Despite the scientific clarity on the need for behaviour change, the practical implications of making choices that in opposition to long-established social norms, available social infrastructure, and personal factors make change difficult on an individual scale. Our aim is to create ease within the process of facing these challenges so that intermediaries can embrace what is difficult for the sake of what is worthwhile: a future for the well-being of humanity and the environment.
Difficult Conversations: Empowering Solutions is the Hot or Cool methodology behind a series of facilitated workshops bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to develop science-based solutions to important but complex issues around behaviour change. Our focus is on topics with high environmental impacts and logistical or moral complexities that present barriers to change; examples include carbon rationing, reduced flying, and meat consumption, societal inequalities, and more.