Transitions to sustainable lifestyles will only happen if people behave—and are incentivized to behave—in ways that are sustainable at all scales. Over the past two decades, behavioral sciences have provided valuable insights into how people perceive, decide, and act, shaping policies that encourage individuals and systems to make more sustainable choices. While behavioral insights have become a key tool for policymakers and social change, they also come with challenges. For instance, they often place responsibility for unsustainable choices on individuals rather than addressing structural issues and can be applied in opaque or even manipulative ways.
In this Pathways Forum webinar, our speakers examined the legitimacy and viability of behavioral solutions for climate change mitigation and transitions to sustainable ways of life in various regions.
Kristian Nielsen (Copenhagen Business School) explored how behavioral insights can help understand and support individual climate action. Mariam Chammat (French Interministerial Directorate for Public Transformation) then talked about how fondamental theories from the behavioral sciences have gradually influenced public policy illustrated by her experience on the field. Lastly, Britt Titus (Airbel Impact Lab) discussed the intersection of behavioral insights and climate resilience in the Global South, highlighting how behavioral science can be used for more complex challenges, like climate resilience
The webinar recording is now available. Watch it below!