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Volume 7, Issue 9(Suppl) J Earth Sci Clim Change
ISSN: 2157-7617 JESCC, an open access journal
Page 17
Climate Change 2016
October 27-29, 2016
conferenceseries.com
October 24-26, 2016 Valencia, Spain
World Conference onClimate Change
Mindfulness-based health-enhancement and carbon footprint reduction
Background: Greenhouse gas emissions fromhuman activities are causing climate change. Behaviors including transportation,
diet, and energy use influence societal processes that release greenhouse gas pollutants, but are also related to health and well-
being. Replacing automobile driving with walking and cycling, for instance, may increase health and well-being while lowering
environmental impact. Mindfulness-based practices can be effective in modifying health-related behaviors.
Specific Aims: (1) To pilot test a mindfulness-based behavioral program aimed at: (a) enhancement of health and well-being,
and (b) reduction in carbon footprint; (2) carry out a randomized controlled trial to assess impact on health, well-being, and
carbon footprint.
Approach: Our multi-disciplinary team has designed an 8-week mindfulness-based behavioral training program. The Mindful
Climate Action (MCA) program aims to: (1) teach climate change core knowledge, (2) decrease household energy use, (3)
reduce automobile and air transport, (4) increase active transport and physical activity, (5) modify dietary impact on carbon
footprint, (6) reduce unnecessary purchasing and consumption, and (7) improve personal health and well-being.
Significance: Despite known behavioral contributions towards climate change, little work has been done to understand and
modify the individual-level choices and behaviors involved. Mindfulness-based trainings are rapidly proving successful for
behavioral modification and health-enhancement. Behavioral training leading to increased active transport (more exercise),
healthier plant-based diets, and reduced energy consumption and unnecessary purchasing could yield significant benefits in
terms of both sustainability and personal health and well-being.
Biography
Bruce Barrett is a board-certified, a practicing Family Physician and tenured research Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has published more
than 80 peer-reviewed scientific papers, and has directed four randomized controlled trials funded by the US National Institutes of Health, with more than 1,500
subjects. Two of his trials assess the impact of training in mindfulness-based stress reduction on the immune system and acute respiratory infection. He has led
the Mindful Climate Action group since its inception in 2014.
Bruce Barrett
University of Wisconsin, USA
Bruce Barrett, J Earth Sci Clim Change 2016, 7:9(Suppl)