Existing environmental problems, such as climate change and species extinction, are partially the result of human behavior. Attempts to motivate people to alter environmentally damaging behaviors have primarily relied on the summoning of negative emotions. In this opinion article, the author proposes a hypothesis describing empirical evidence, showing how positive emotions can be more effective at inspiring environmentally responsible behaviors. Fredrickson's Broaden-and-Build theory of positive emotions is used to demonstrate how cultivated positive emotions can expand individual awareness of their connections to Earth's living systems, increase their capacity to creatively and effectively address environmental problems, and help them recognize that wellbeing and environmental health go hand in hand.
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