Empathy that saves the climate

We are used to framing climate change as a divisive issue, with activists on one side and indifferent bystanders on the other. A narrative in which human emotions have been entirely dismissed in favour of data and facts—often used as weapons to attack one side or the other rather than as tools for understanding. But what if the key to finding common ground lies in including, rather than excluding, the emotions that arise from this struggle? From Indonesia, a story of listening and empathy with valuable lessons to teach.

Fear, pessimism, anger. Human emotions, too, can hinder the fight against climate change—unless they are addressed and transformed into the fuel this fight needs. This is exactly what a Bali-based NGO, North Bali Reef Conservation, strives to do. Over the past eight years, it has overcome the initial scepticism of some residents to rebuild a portion of the coral reef. The key? Beyond having a solid project, the organisation has relied on an empathetic approach to engage both volunteers and locals.

The fear of change

Even though it may seem counterintuitive—who would oppose a project that benefits the environment?—any initiative that changes the way people live or use a part of the world can trigger fears or resistance. This happens in Bali, just as it does elsewhere on the planet. If you’ve always fished in those waters or relied on docking close to the shore to bring in tourists, the prospect of changing your habits—or having a group of outsiders, even foreigners, tell you that you must—can clash with your deeply rooted needs and routines, no matter how harmful they may be.

Perhaps our relationship with the environment has less to do with nature and more with the emotions we experience when we interact, directly or indirectly, with the ocean, the forest, the mountain, or the river. We do not think about the river or the forest itself, but about how we are used to (not) living in or (not) exploiting them.

Restoring seabeds and trust

Marine life is no exception. According to data from the Marine Ecological Research Management AID (MERMAID), part of the Ocean Decade program promoted by UNESCO and the United Nations, by 2050, 90% of coral reefs are at risk of disappearing due to pollution, exploitation, and irresponsible tourism. The damage has a domino effect: these ecosystems support biodiversity, provide sustenance for marine creatures, and absorb up to 95% of wave energy, protecting coastal areas.

North Bali Reef Conservation is a non-governmental organisation based in the fishing village of Tianyar, on Bali’s north-eastern coast. Founded in 2017 by Ketut, it was created in response to the urgent need to restore a coral reef damaged by unsustainable practices. The organisation works to regenerate the marine ecosystem while providing the local community with sustainable alternative livelihoods.

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«When we first started, the area of the reef – In the province of Tianyar, east of the island (editor’s note) – was almost entirely covered by sand», Ni Luh Putu Sukmawati (commonly known as Sukma) explains. Sukma is a 23-year-old Indonesian and one of the coordinators of the project co-founded by marine scientist Zach Boakes.

«Our original goal was to restore this area of reef through building artificial reefs. Now, we have built and deployed over 30,000 artificial reef structures, and most of the area has now been filled with artificial reefs».

The transformation is also documented on the group’s YouTube channel. In about three years, the seabed has gone from barren and sandy to vibrant and colourful, teeming with fish, starfish, algae, and vegetation that is not only beautiful to look at but also essential for protecting the coastline. This has been confirmed by several peer-reviewed scientific publications (here, here, and here).

But this is the rational side of the story—the part that doesn’t explain how such a result was achieved. Even the best plan can fail if there is no dialogue with those who live in these areas. If there is no effort to put oneself in the shoes of those who may not share a different vision of the environment.

Beyond the trap of cynicism

Protecting or not protecting a stretch of coastline, deciding whether to build in a certain area, deforesting or reforesting, preserving a species that was being fished until just the day before—these are all examples of what sociologists and behavioural psychologists now classify as highly polarized issues. These topics most easily divide people into opposing factions, fuel heated debates, and generate negative emotions on each side.

Jamil Zaki, a professor of psychology at Stanford University and director of the Social Neuroscience Lab, has focused his research on these polarizations and the emotions they trigger. He has even experimented with the guided application of empathy and optimism in potentially (or actually) conflictual mediations.

«One of my favourite studies of all time occurred in southeastern Brazil», Zaki explained during a TED Talk, where he discussed what he calls the trap of cynicism (his talk took place in 2021, during the height of the global pandemic—hardly the best time for global morale). «Two fishing villages there are separated by just 30 miles. One sits by the ocean, where fishing requires large boats and heavy equipment. To make a living there, fishermen must work together. The other sits by a lake, where fishermen strike out alone on small boats and compete with one another. Years ago, researchers tested how people in each of these villages responded to a set of social experiments […] But here’s the crazy part. These folks didn’t start out any different from each other, but the longer fishermen worked on the lake, the more they competed. The longer they worked on the ocean, the less they did».

According to Zaki, this difference can be explained by the fact that «our social worlds shape us, like clay, into versions of ourselves that are either full of hope or cynical».

Emotions play a much bigger role than we often realize and, according to his research, cynicism is the least effective of them all — it fuels conflict and makes people lose sight of their goals. Empathy, on the other hand, can create neutral ground where opposing sides can truly listen to each other, leading to more sustainable and lasting outcomes.

Environmental protection may not generate the same expectations for everyone involved, and those who care most about sustainability often feel frustrated by their inability to raise awareness—despite overwhelming evidence, data, studies, and plain common sense. But what if reason had nothing to do with it?

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The subtle power of irony

Tianyar is also a village, much like the one in Zaki’s experiment. To build the artificial reef, members of the NGO and volunteers from around the world must work alongside local fishermen. The goal is to produce as many concrete blocks as possible each week — structures that mimic the foundation of a coral reef. On the surface, it’s a simple task — all you need is a trowel and a willingness to get your hands dirty. But without the support of the locals, it would be impossible. They help mix the concrete to pour into molds carved into the ground, lift the heavy blocks from the sandy molds, and drag them into the water. And when it’s time to submerge the structures, it’s always the local fishermen who provide their boats — long, colourful wooden vessels that resemble a cross between a felucca and a catamaran.

«I would estimate we have hosted over 1000 volunteers since 2017, who have joined us for between 1 week to 6 months», Sukma says. The camp can host dozens of people at a time, though counting them is pointless since the flow of volunteers is continuous and has been going on for years. This human “tsunami,” coming from cultures often quite different from Balinese traditions, could easily become intrusive if not managed with the tact and open-mindedness that Sukma and the team demonstrate daily.

Today, many locals work with the group as cooks, drivers, diving guides, and merchants. But at the start of the program, convincing residents of the project’s value—and getting them to embrace outside cultures—was no easy task. How did the NGO members manage to convey that it would all be worth it? «At the start, we held workshops with the local fishermen and explained how engaging in reef restoration would have direct positive impacts for them too», Sukma explains. «It wasn’t an easy process, and there were definitely some people against the project, but as we started to grow, more and more of the community started to join and support us».

«We achieve this by ensuring our program has direct community engagement, whereby local people make the decisions about the restoration activities, and also feel the benefits of it too».

Instead of imposing the program, it was explained. Instead of excluding the fishermen, they were the first to be involved. When the young members of the NGO — all under 30 — conduct training sessions, they are rigorous but also lighthearted. They aim to engage people by making everyone feel part of the group while maintaining maximum flexibility: no orders, no judgment, and always open communication.

Beyond zero-sum games

Approaching even those who may oppose us with empathy is an act of deep respect—an inclusive act of sustainability. Or, to put it in the words of Laurie Santos, a professor of psychology at Yale, a strategy for disagreeing better.

«When we are experiencing conflict, we tend to think of the solution as what’s called the zero-sum game», Santos told in a recent interview for FastCompany. «One of us is going to win and one of us is going to lose. But oftentimes you can actually increase the pie if you find moments where you can compromise or negotiate». One of the best techniques for achieving this is to establish a genuine dialogue, just as Sukma and the volunteers have done—listening and putting themselves in others’ shoes by asking questions and understanding how they feel about the issue. «Research from folks like (University of Chicago behavioural science professor) Nick Epley and others has shown that what’s far more valuable is to engage in perspective-getting, which means that you ask people their perspective».

«You ask about their stories and values and really listen when they give you that answer back».

Direct immersion to connect better

«I think the best way to engage people in the environment is through direct immersion», Sukma says. «When it comes to coral reefs, so many people living in coastal villages have never even been snorkeling to see their reefs. This creates a disconnect, as people don’t know how beautiful their local environment is, and in many cases are therefore not interested in protecting it». This is why the NGO is working to encourage more and more local young people to dive into the sea and discover what lies beneath the surface, «so that they too may be inspired to protect their ocean». With empathy, humor, and humility—emotions that serve as a clean and sustainable fuel for everyone.