Mindfulness to climate change inaction: The role of awe, “Dragons of inaction” psychological barriers and nature connectedness

To combat climate change and foster sustainable development, climate change inaction must be reduced, and this requires understanding the factors that lead to inaction. In the present research, we first investigated the possible mediation of the “dragons of inaction” psychological barriers (DIPB) and nature connectedness on the relationships between mindfulness and climate change inaction, and awe and climate change inaction. Later, an integrated theoretical model involving all the variables of interest was tested. The results showed that the associations of mindfulness and awe with climate change inaction were both mediated by the DIPB and nature connectedness. Moreover, mindfulness was significantly and negatively linked with climate change inaction through the sequential mediation of awe and the DIPB, and awe and nature connectedness. These findings advance the current understanding of climate change inaction. At the same time, they suggest that improving mindfulness and awe may effectively reduce climate change inaction by breaking down psychological barriers and increasing nature connectedness. • Higher level of mindfulness and awe were related to less climate change inaction through nature connectedness and DIPB. • An integrated model concerning mindfulness, awe and climate change inaction was empirically confirmed. • Mindfulness and awe can be combined to nudge sustainable development by virtue of climate change inaction reduction.