The IPCC states that the time is "now or never" to address global warming. But despite a history of bipartisan success on environmental issues within the US, where the two major political parties enacted laws to protect the planet, the American political system has largely failed. With this backdrop, I present research that has sought to understand psychological barriers to bipartisan climate policy. I examine four interconnected actors that both reflect and perpetuate the conflict: 1) the populace, that recognizes the existence and importance of the climate crisis, but who are influenced by identity and norms; 2) the politicians, who make policy within their own social psychological context; 3) the media, who advance narratives of extremity; and 4) the activists, who try to influence the other actors to act with the urgency that is required. Through analyses of quantitative data and interviews collected from these four actors, the talk will highlight the relevance of social psychological research to ongoing conflicts, while, at the same time, reflecting on its impact at affecting change commensurate with the urgency of the moment.