Hi all,
My name is Ezra Markowitz, and I am a graduate student at the University of Oregon working for the Institute for a Sustainable Environment on a project that is seeking to identify, collect, organize and summarize as much literature (published, unpublished, in- house reports, etc.) as I can find that focuses on the greenhouse gas emission reduction potential associated with 'behavior change.' We are interested in everything from individual/household intervention studies to organizational/institutional behavior change campaigns, and are looking across a number of GHG-producing domains (e.g., energy use, consumption, transportation). Essentially we are looking to answer the following question: what quantitative and/or case studies exist that show how a change in behavior leads/led to reduced GHG emissions or, as surrogates, less energy use, less use of fossil fuels, lower resource consumption, etc.? The key is that we are not looking for theoretical gains that would be made if a behavior were changed, but rather, what changes have successfully been made (and quantified) in changing behavior and what was the GHG-relevant outcome associated with that/those change(s). I have been scouring the published literature for relevant studies, and now I am turning to all of you for help to continue the search not only for published work I may have missed but also for relevant case studies, of which I believe there may be many. I know there are many on this listserv who work directly with implementing environmental behavioral change campaigns and interventions, and I am hoping that some of you may have reports, news stories and other sources of useful and pertinent information for this project. Our goal is to collect as much information as we can and then share the results as widely as possible. We hope that this project can be beneficial to many who are working towards improving and increasing sustainable behavior in many domains. Please send me any questions you might have about the project.
Thank you in advance,
Ezra
Ezra Markowitz
Doctoral Program in Environmental Science,
Studies, and Policy Focal Department Psychology
University of Oregon
[email protected]
Behavior Change/Climate Change Linkages, Case Studies
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Hello Ezra, this sounds very ambitious and of enormous value! Please keep us updated as to what you are finding. We are starting shortly a program in North Vancouver, BC targeting GHG reductions through individual engagement, using a Low Carbon Diet approach, and will be exploring how we can capture measurable impacts on GHG's as a result of the program. It would be some time before we had results to share, and in fact your message suggested to me that it may be worth partnering with a local university who has the expertise, and hopefully the interest, to help us track impact.
cheers
David Thomson
Hi Ezra:
If you have not alredy looked there, you'll find many related behaviour change case studies with measured impacts at www.toolsofchange.com
Cheers,
Jay
Jay Kassirer
President, Cullbridge Marketing and Communications
61 Forest Hill Avenue,
Ottawa Ontario, Canada K2C 1P7
Tel: (613) 224-3800
Web: www.cullbridge.com
Hello,
While this paper is not a case study, it is relevant to the topic of behavior change, and might lead to some references for you. The paper is titled "Weathercocks and Signposts" and was published by the WWF-UK in April of this year. Check out www.wwf.org.uk/strategiesforchange
Good Luck,
Tom Worthley
Thomas E. Worthley
Associate Extension Educator
Middlesex County Extension Center
1066 Saybrook Rd.
Haddam, CT 06438-0070
phone: 860-345-5232
fax: 860-345-3357
David, I would certainly recommend partnering up with a research facility who can do the number crunching with you, and can ensure everything you do is academically and statistically robust, as well as having good links for wide dissemination of results - well worth the effort at the beginning to make the most of all your work! We're also working on behaviour change via our various programmes, (including a possible new one in collaboration with a local research facility - focusing on measuring the impact of using business ambassadors in the tourism sector (ie amongst other businesses, and also their visitors), and would be happy to share - possibly some time next summer if we are able to do the short piece of work we are intending.) Keep in touch!
Cheers,
Manda
Manda Brookman
Director
CoaST: Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project
Penstraze Business Centre, Truro,
Cornwall, UK TR4 8HY
p: 01872 562 057
f: 01872 560450
m: 07816 061 780
w: coastproject.co.uk
Tom, That paper by WWF you sent hit the nail on the head for me, thank-you. I am part of a collective of designers here setting up an architectural/urban design Studio for universities that seeks to address those larger issues of our social context and behaviours set against the limitations of an architectural profession / construction / developers industry. We are hoping by framing a design studio subject with these imperatives and using these to assess every single thought, action and process in architectural design and urban design, it will effect greater influence and integration into approaching design a different way and breakdown the limitations of a design profession predicated upon aesthetics, fashion whims and consumption rather than social imperatives for the predicament humanity faces. A cross-discipline approach and understanding of how behaviour change is sold, marketed and the patterns of consumption and choice people make is what we are wanting to 'lock-in' with students. Anyone who has attempted or experienced something similar to what I described I would be interested in hearing about your thoughts and experiences. Direct email below if u desire.
Cheers
scott prz
Scott Prz B.Arch(Hons.) Dip.
Graphic Design |
Graduate Architect + Graphic Designer |
Design & Urban Environment |
City of Melbourne
CH2 - 240 Little Collins Street,
Melbourne, VIC, 3000
+613 9658 8653
* [email protected]
Hello Ezra,
this sounds very ambitious and of enormous value! Please keep us updated as to what you are finding. We are starting shortly a program in North Vancouver, BC targeting GHG reductions through individual engagement, using a Low Carbon Diet approach, and will be exploring how we can capture measurable impacts on GHG's as a result of the program. It would be some time before we had results to share, and in fact your message suggested to me that it may be worth partnering with a local university who has the expertise, and hopefully the interest, to help us track impact.
cheers
David Thomson