How can we encourage or incentivise behavioural change among businesses, communities, and individuals to achieve positive outcomes for the environment? What models of societal change might be used to underpin these behaviour change initiatives?

Background

The research areas identified in this document rely on a wide range of research tools and approaches, spanning disciplines across the sciences and social sciences. This section is not an exhaustive list of the tools and approaches of interest to Defra. It identifies some areas of particular relevance and change, which will be important in addressing the challenges faced by Defra and represented throughout this document.

Societies demand resource from the environment and shape that environment. The social science of human-nature interactions is of fundamental importance to Defra.

Next steps

Get in touch with ari.comment@go-science.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DEFRA Research and innovation interests GOVUK

Related UKRI funded projects


  • Bridging Environmental Values

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    Funded by: AHRC

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on encouraging pro-environmental behavior change among organizations and individuals, which directly addresses the question.

  • CAST2

    Fundamental transformations across society are required to avoid the worst climate-related risks. At the same time, there are huge opportunities to improve society and wellbeing through these transformations. The need fo...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses the need for societal transformation to achieve positive outcomes for the environment and provides insights on behavior change initiatives.

  • Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST)

    The Centre for Climate Change Transformations (C3T) will be a global hub for understanding the profound changes required to address climate change. At its core, is a fundamental question of enormous social significance: ...

    Funded by: ESRC

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    The project aims to understand how to transform lifestyles and social structures to achieve a low-carbon future, which aligns with the question.

  • The Distribution and Dynamics of UK Citizens' Environmental Attitudes, Behaviours and Actions

    This project will use the detailed data on individual and household characteristics, environmental and other types of behaviours in the new 90,000 strong 'Understanding Society' household panel (UKHLS) and the preceding ...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project analyzes the relationships between environmental attitudes, behaviors, and actions, which partially addresses the question.

  • Beyond Individual Persuasion: Towards a Paradigm Shift in Interactive Visualisation and Sensing for Environmental Change

    The overarching goal of this project is to innovate the design of interactive visualisations and sensing for environmental change, reorienting them beyond their current use as levers of individual persuasion, towards an ...

    Funded by: EPSRC

  • Embedding environmental science into community organising

    Work through the ENCOMPASS project (Engageing Communities with their Environment at the University of Birmingham) with under-served local communities (for example in the Lozells, Handsworth and Balsall Heath areas of Bir...

    Funded by: NERC

  • Green Economy Transition

    Newham Council has ambitious targets to become carbon neutral by 2030, and to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050\. There is a clear political commitment set out in the 2022 Corporate Plan, _Building a Fair...

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  • Monitoring and Evaluation for Sustainable Communities

    Community groups do have a pivotal role to play in meeting the UK's ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments and sustainable development goals. Across the UK there are currently over 600 'low carbon' commu...

    Funded by: ESRC

  • Enriching understanding of climate and energy related behaviours (Energy Behaviour Fellowship Follow On Fund)

    Government policies across many fields are currently being steered by the concept of 'behaviour change' as a 'light-touch' alternative to regulation. Behaviour is neither simple to understand, nor to change. Current poli...

    Funded by: ESRC

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    The project focuses on understanding public behaviors and social practices related to energy usage and climate change, providing support to stakeholders and government departments.

  • The Greenwash Scorecard

    The Greenwash Scorecard is a user-friendly tool aimed at uncovering greenwashing across the business landscape, consumer choices, and the creative sectors. Users complete a self-assessment questionnaire and receive a sco...

    Funded by: Innovate UK