Climate change, biodiversity loss and other ecological crises trigger strong emotional responses – ranging from climate anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed to empathy, hope and a sense of responsibility. At the same time, everyday consumption is driven by additional motives such as the desire to belong, to enjoy oneself, to express status or to seek experiences. This creates a tension that often makes consumption decisions complex and contradictory, giving rise to emotions such as guilt, shame or denial, but also to feelings of self-efficacy, joy and hope.
We cordially invite you to explore these emotional dynamics together at the Forum on Sustainable Consumption, taking place online on Thursday, 26 February 2026, from 9:30 to 13:15. The event will focus on how emotions emerge in the context of sustainable consumption, how they actually influence consumer behaviour, and how emotional energies can be transformed into a productive, democratic and caring capacity for action.
The programme will open with a keynote by Katharina van Bronswijk, psychotherapist and spokesperson for Psychologists and Psychotherapists for Future, who will shed light on the emotional interconnections between sustainability and consumption. This will be followed by an interactive BarCamp with breakout sessions, providing space for in-depth discussions, personal reflection and the exchange of different perspectives.
You can register for the event here.
The Forum on Sustainable Consumption is organised by ConPolicy – Institute for Consumer Policy and co2online on behalf of the German Environment Agency (UBA).