“Renee is rare combination of brilliant scientific researcher, strategic consultant and creative thinker. She brings a deep understanding of both climate science as well as human psychology to teams I've worked with her on. For the Alliance for Climate Education Have the Talk campaign, she was an invaluable thinker, collaborator and trainer. I'd highly recommend working with her. ”
About
Inner work leads to outer results.
My work is all about transformation…
Activity
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What’ll you get if you join the Matereality: Redefine Corporate Purpose Workshop Series ? (Aside from an even better deal if you catch the…
What’ll you get if you join the Matereality: Redefine Corporate Purpose Workshop Series ? (Aside from an even better deal if you catch the…
Liked by Renee Lertzman, PhD
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Something I find pretty shocking and disturbing, and I'll explain why in a minute, is that neither funders in the climate space nor most climate orgs…
Something I find pretty shocking and disturbing, and I'll explain why in a minute, is that neither funders in the climate space nor most climate orgs…
Liked by Renee Lertzman, PhD
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I'm holding three questions. 1. Who is in charge? 2. What are their incentives? 3. What are we conditioned to believe is good? 🌱🌱🌱
I'm holding three questions. 1. Who is in charge? 2. What are their incentives? 3. What are we conditioned to believe is good? 🌱🌱🌱
Liked by Renee Lertzman, PhD
Experience
Education
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Conducted graduate studies in environmental communications; published MA thesis on the media representation of pfiesteria piscicida, as the "cell from hell." Also organized a series of symposia and events focusing on nature, culture, psychology and communications.
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Conducted research on the psychological dimensions of environmental issues and degradation, focusing primarily on the work of Robert J. Lifton and Joanna Macy.
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Publications
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Environmental Melancholia: Psychoanalytic Dimensions of Engagement
Routledge
In this groundbreaking book, Renee Lertzman applies psychoanalytic theory and psychosocial research to the issue of public engagement and public apathy in response to chronic ecological threats. By highlighting unconscious and affective dimensions of contemporary ecological issues, Lertzman deconstructs the idea that there is a gap between what people care about and what is actually carried out in policy and personal practice. In doing so, she presents an innovative way to think about and…
In this groundbreaking book, Renee Lertzman applies psychoanalytic theory and psychosocial research to the issue of public engagement and public apathy in response to chronic ecological threats. By highlighting unconscious and affective dimensions of contemporary ecological issues, Lertzman deconstructs the idea that there is a gap between what people care about and what is actually carried out in policy and personal practice. In doing so, she presents an innovative way to think about and design engagement practices and policy interventions.
Based on key qualitative fieldwork and in-depth interviews conducted in Green Bay, Wisconsin, each chapter provides a psychosocial, psychoanalytic perspective on subjectivity, affect and identity, and considers what this means for understanding behaviour in relation to environmental crises and climate change. The book argues for a theory of environmental melancholia that accounts for the ways in which people experience profound loss and disruption caused by environmental issues, and yet may have trouble expressing or making sense of such experiences.
Environmental Melancholia offers a fresh perspective to the field of environmental psychology that until now has been largely dominated by research in cognitive, behavioural and social psychology. It will appeal to academics, researchers and postgraduate students in the fields of psychoanalysis, psychosocial studies and sustainability, as well as policy makers and educators internationally. -
Beyond Behavior Change
Sustainable Brands
In this guest post, Renee argues for why we need to go beyond behavior change and target underlying motivations and levers for change.
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The Myth of Apathy
The Ecologist
In this commentary on The Ecologist, Renee argues for the need to attend to emotional aspects of sustainability, and how apathy is a symptom of underlying concerns.
Other authors
Projects
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Project InsideOut
Groundbreaking resources and tools, created by psychologists, trauma-informed practitioners, strategists and motivational interviewing trainers. For changemakers, issue agnostic. Funder: KR Foundation
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Reducing Ivory Demand with WWF
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In 2016, WWF commissioned Renee to develop a new approach to reducing consumer demand for ivory, particularly in China.
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Strategic Insights for Skoll Global Threats Fund
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Skoll Global Threats Fund (SGTF) hired Renee to advise their strategic support of the climate advocacy community.
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Psychology of Environmental Communications and Education graduate course
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Since 2011, Renee has been delivering a three-week intensive residency course at Royal Roads University in the Master’s program for Environmental Education and Communication (MAEEC).
Renee designed the experiential course to assist professionals working in education and communications, across government, public and private sectors. Students in the course have worked for organizations including Greenpeace, Sierra Club, David Suzuki Foundation, as well as informal science centers, and…Since 2011, Renee has been delivering a three-week intensive residency course at Royal Roads University in the Master’s program for Environmental Education and Communication (MAEEC).
Renee designed the experiential course to assist professionals working in education and communications, across government, public and private sectors. Students in the course have worked for organizations including Greenpeace, Sierra Club, David Suzuki Foundation, as well as informal science centers, and national and regional governmental departments. -
Human-Centered Engagement with Brand Cool
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In 2015, Renee served as Director of Insight for Brand Cool to advance the agency’s work with national energy-efficiency clients such as New York State Energy Research Authority (NYSERDA).
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