Climate cafés as a space for navigating climate emotions: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Community Health Interventions
• Climate Change Adaptation

Background:

• Climate change presents significant physical health risks.
• Mental and emotional impacts of climate change are increasingly recognized.
• Climate Cafés are emerging community-led spaces for discussing climate-related emotions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map the landscape of Climate Cafés.
• To assess their role in addressing climate-induced distress.
• To evaluate their potential in motivating climate action.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review of academic and grey literature (2015-2024).
• Searches conducted across MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Public Health Database, and Web of Science.
• Grey literature search to capture non-academic publications.

Main Results:

• 41 grey literature records identified; no academic literature met criteria.
• Climate Cafés provide flexible, community-driven spaces for processing climate emotions.
• Participant feedback reported reduced isolation, decreased anxiety, and increased hope.
• Identified challenges include inclusivity, cultural barriers, logistics, and evaluation standardization.

Conclusions:

• Climate Cafés show promise for addressing climate change's emotional toll.
• Further research is essential to evaluate effectiveness and inform integration.
• Supports individual well-being and community resilience strategies.