Climate Change and Psychology

The Climate Change and Psychology Initiative of the Counsellor Council of India (CCI)addresses the growing psychological, emotional, and social impacts of climate change on individuals, communities, and professionals. The initiative recognises climate change not only as an environmental crisis, but as a significant mental health and psychosocial challenge affecting stress levels, emotional well-being, community resilience, and adaptive capacity across populations.

This initiative is developed and advanced with the support and collaborative engagement of the Global Psychological Alliance, enabling CCI to align its work with global psychological research, ethical frameworks, and evidence-based practices. Through this collaboration, CCI integrates international perspectives with Indian socio-cultural realities to strengthen climate-responsive mental health interventions.

The programme focuses on building awareness and professional capacity around climate anxiety, ecological grief, disaster-related trauma, displacement stress, livelihood insecurity, and long-term psychological adaptation to climate change. Special emphasis is placed on preparing counsellors, psychologists, educators, and community practitioners to respond ethically and effectively to climate-induced psychological distress.

Through training programs, workshops, professional dialogues, and advocacy efforts, CCI promotes climate-informed counselling practices, psychosocial resilience, and community-based mental health responses. The initiative also supports the integration of psychological perspectives into climate policy discussions, disaster preparedness, education systems, and public health planning.

By combining national experience with global psychological expertise, the Climate Change and Psychology Initiativestrengthens CCI’s commitment to ethical practice, evidence-based intervention, and social responsibility, contributing to a more resilient, informed, and mentally prepared society in the face of climate change.