Navigating the Climate Challenge: Socio-Psychological Approaches to Bridging Human-Society Well-Being and Environmental Sustainability

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change represents one of the most pressing societal challenges of the twenty-first century, with profound implications for both environmental sustainability and individual and collective well-being. While technological and policy-oriented solutions remain essential, increasing evidence suggests that psychological and social factors play a critical role in shaping environmental attitudes, sustainable behaviors, public engagement, and societal responses to climate-related challenges.

This Special Issue aims to advance understanding of the socio-psychological processes that connect human well-being, social functioning, and environmental sustainability. The Special Issue welcomes theoretical, empirical, and interdisciplinary contributions examining how psychological mechanisms, social identities, interpersonal relationships, collective beliefs, and cultural dynamics influence environmental perceptions, climate-related behaviors, and support for sustainability initiatives.

Particular attention will be devoted to research exploring the reciprocal relationship between environmental conditions and psychological well-being, as well as studies investigating how individuals and communities respond to environmental threats, uncertainty, and climate-related risks. Contributions may address pro-environmental behavior, climate change communication, environmental concern, social influence processes, collective action, environmental justice, eco-anxiety, resilience, sustainable consumption, and interventions designed to promote behavioral and social change.

By bringing together diverse socio-psychological perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the human dimensions of environmental sustainability. Ultimately, it aims to identify evidence-based strategies capable of fostering both societal well-being and meaningful responses to contemporary environmental challenges, contributing to the development of more sustainable and resilient societies.

Contributions are to follow one of the three categories of papers (Article, Concept Paper or Review) of the journal and address the topic of the Special Issue.

Dr. Calogero Lo Destro
Dr. Dario Davì
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as conceptual papers are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Societies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.