Mainstreaming low-carbon lifestyles

When it comes to mainstreaming low-carbon lifestyles, why do we need to move from ‘nudge’ to ‘think’? How do we make sure we’re focusing on the behaviours and audiences that really matter? When does one sustainable behaviour lead to another? What role do positive social norms, authentic storytelling and timing play?

These are some of the questions brought together in a report drawing on key findings from Cardiff University’s Low Carbon Lifestyles & Behavioural Spillover (CASPI) programme. This programme funded by the European Research Council has spanned 5 years and 7 countries.

We present these findings in the context of wider social science research on low-carbon lifestyles, and offer a set of recommendations for how to move beyond small-scale and piecemeal approaches to behaviour change.

Download report

This report is designed for the wide range of individuals and organisations involved in influencing sustainable behaviours including national policymakers, local authorities, professional campaigners, and those leading community-level initiatives.

Listen to two of the report’s authors and a discussant share key insights and recommendations from the report in the webinar below. The webinar was chaired by Adam Corner (Climate Outreach) and presented by Lorraine Whitmarsh (Cardiff University), and they were joined by discussant Lucy Corfield (Welsh Government).

In related work, at the time of releasing this report we were gearing up for the launch of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST). We are one of 5 core partners in this £5 million research investment which started in May 2019. It will become the UK hub for the social science of climate change, focusing on four challenging areas of everyday life that are critical for making progress on carbon emissions but have proven stubbornly resistant to change.

Finding this report useful for your work? Support us to create even more practical, evidence-based resources

Support our work

Videos & podcasts

Webinar

Adam Corner and Prof Lorraine Whitmarsh (Cardiff University) share key findings and recommendations from Cardiff University’s Low Carbon Lifestyles & Behavioural Spillover (CASPI) programme, presented in the context of wider social science research on low-carbon lifestyles, and offer a set of recommendations to mainstreaming low-carbon lifestyles.