Climate News 25:13

“In a systematic review, Engberg et al. (2012) showed that getting remarried, having a child, starting university, and experiencing a terrorist attack all led to a decrease in physical activity.”

Apart from the amusing juxtaposition of having a child and surviving a terrorist attack, Engberg and co. were onto something. When people go through changes in life, they are more open to opportunities to change behaviours.

A new multidisciplinary review of moments of change and low carbon behaviours covers a broad range of research, identifying known moments of change and the behaviours they change, including:
  • moving house – increase or decrease in walking, depending on the new home environment,
  • migration to a new country – adopting social normed environmental behaviours (especially recycling and energy and water use) of the new country,
  • transition to adulthood – increase in public transport use and sustainable diets,
  • parenthood – more likely to buy a car but also more localised walking, switching off lights and reduced meat consumption, and 
  • retirement – reduced car use and reduced meat and dairy consumption.
Having an environmental epiphany (e.g. visiting a place of natural beauty) with opportunities for contemplation can also lead to increased sustainability behaviours.

Interestingly, external shocks, such as pandemics, financial crises and terrorist attacks, generally have little last effect on sustainability behaviours apart from societal shifts, such as working from home.

For local governments, all of these moments of change are opportunities for engagement. They require being able to identify who is going through these changes and when, as well as imagination.
 
For example, councils often welcome new residents with packs of information about local services and infrastructure. Why not include opportunities to set new social norms (“it’s only a 5 minute walk to your local shops”) or highlight sustainability behaviour change engagements.

Understanding how people live their lives and being on top of opportunities like moments of change, is vital if we want to be more pro-active about encouraging sustainable behaviours.
Last week’s International Court of Justice decision that nations have an obligation under international law to prevent climate change has generated a lot of excitement.
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But what does it mean for countries, like Australia, that produce fossil fuels and will it make a difference?
What does climate adaptation in Australia look like?
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The Australian Adaptation Database has over 700 examples so far, and is adding more all the time.

Climate Emergency Australia is running another round of its Governing in the Climate Emergency course for councillors.

The course will run in early October - make sure your elected representatives know about it and sign up.

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