Renée Lertzman

Dr. Renée Lertzman is a climate psychologist, researcher, and engagement strategist specializing in the intersection of psychology and environmental action. Lertzman develops tools and strategies for organizations to engage, mobilize, and connect with diverse populations on climate change. She holds a master's degree in environmental rhetoric from UNC Chapel Hill and a doctorate in social science from Cardiff University in Wales. Her academic work explores why individuals struggle to act on ecological issues despite clear evidence, leading her to establish a field that addresses climate knowledge as both an informational and psychological experience.

Lertzman is the author of "Environmental Melancholia: Psychoanalytic Dimensions of Engagement," published by Routledge. In this book, she applies psychoanalytic theory and psychosocial research to public engagement and apathy in response to ongoing ecological threats, challenging assumptions about the gap between concern and action in environmental policy and personal behavior. Her approach integrates behavioral, social, and design sciences to support social change. Her writing has appeared in The Sun Magazine, Sierra, Pacific Standard, Orion Magazine, The Ecologist, Climate Access, DeSmog Blog, Sustainable Brands, and Sightline.

Lertzman has reached a broad audience through her TED Talk, "How To Turn Climate Anxiety Into Action," where she discusses the psychological dimensions of climate change and offers insights on using psychology to foster creativity and resilience in environmental action. Her work has been featured in The Guardian, The New York Times, Bloomberg CityLab, The Washington Post, Hollywood Reporter, Vice, Huffington Post, Oregon Public Radio, National Public Radio, TED Radio Hour, and BBC. She is recognized for her expertise in climate psychology and change management, providing guidance to organizations, government agencies, and technology companies.

For more than 20 years, Lertzman has collaborated with organizations and professionals across government, business, philanthropy, and non-governmental sectors to design research tools, engagement practices, and strategies tailored to the complexities of environmental work. She has taught, presented, and conducted research for institutions including World Wildlife Fund, the White House Social and Behavioral Sciences Team, National Center for Atmospheric Research, NOAA, Columbia University, Portland State University, Royal Roads University, Oxford University's UK Energy Research Centre, University College London's Climate Sciences Communications Policy Commission, and Radboud University. Lertzman launched Project InsideOut, an initiative supported by grants from the KR Foundation and the 11th Hour Project, which provides resources for the sustainability sector by connecting activists with clinical psychologists to promote sustainable behavior change. Through her consultancy, keynote speaking, and ongoing research, Lertzman advances understanding of climate psychology and effective environmental engagement.