Hello, I am looking for some very general information regarding what one could expect in terms of energy/emissions reductions that result from changes in policy versus reductions achieved via voluntary behaviour change projects that follow a community-based social marketing approach. I suspect that changes in policy would result in the vast majority of people changing their behaviour (as policy changes often correlate to changes in law), but I also suspect that policy cannot be used to spur all behaviour change.
I will give an example of what I am looking for:
EX#1 - In terms of behaviour change, no more than __________% of desired behaviour change, regarding energy/emissions reductions, is likely to be accomplished through voluntary CBSM behaviour change projects.
EX#2 - If there was a directive to lower the emissions of a particular community, ________% of those reductions could be accomplished via well-working voluntary CBSM behaviour change projects.
I suspect that about 90% of desired behaviour change will be expected from changes in policy vs. only about 10% through voluntary CBSM projects, but this is an arbitrary guess.
Can anyone help me by suggesting a credible source where this information can be located? I would guess that Doug McKenzie-Mohr might have done his own research on this, but I am having difficulty locating some specific numbers that might translate well into the percentage figures that I am looking for in my examples. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Remi
Remi Charron
Sustainability Projects (Student) Intern
Office of Sustainability - University of Alberta
Canada
Energy/Emissions Reduction Results: Policy vs. Voluntary
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Thank you very much Jill. That should give me a good start!
Remi Charron
Sustainability Projects (Student) Intern
Office of Sustainability - University of Alberta
Canada
Hi Remi,
I strongly suggest you read Creatures of Habit, by the Social Markets Foundation. They lay out the drivers of behaviour change (sadly withouy the numbers you are looking for) in five categories--finance, effort, habit, cognition and norms.
So, regulation? Do you drive over the speed limit? Do you sneak a chocolate almond from the bulk bin at the gorcery store? Here in Vancouver, there is a ban on throwing away recyclables, and yet half of our paper ends up in the dump.
And a lot more than half would be in the dump without the infrastructure (blue bins, collection trucks, etc) to support it. Very few people actually drive their recycling to a depot here. So infrastructure is another factor, and one that will be critical to emissions reductions. New policy and new infrastructure are needed to allow people to make greener choices, rather than just yelling at them that they should be better (which sadly we do far too much of).
And then after policy and infrastructure there are habits--it is still pretty easy to throw a piece of paper in the garbage can, the habits are new. How we frame with behaviour change and use social norms are critical.
So, I think to create change, we should be using all five of the drivers of change, not just one or the other.
cheers,
Ruben.
Ruben Anderson
Communications Specialist
Metro Vancouver
Canada
Thanks again for all of the great feedback. Ruben, I am glad that you are aware that this ecologocal problem that we are faced with should be approached in a number of different ways. I agree, the less we have to harp on people to change their behaviour the better. your response and reference are greatly appreciated!
Cheers,
Remi
Remi Charron
Sustainability Projects (Student) Intern
Office of Sustainability - University of Alberta
Canada
This might help you get looking in the right place:
"There are many untapped energy reduction measures in the federal government. Behavior change can also be a powerful driver in reducing energy consumption and ultimately GHG emissions. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy estimates U.S. residential energy use could be reduced by as much as 11% as a result of consumer behavior change and lifestyle choices alone. The widespread use of operations and maintenance best practices also falls under the category of behavior and culture change."
from http://www1.eere.energy.gov/office_eere/testimony_crawley_071609.html
Jill Boone
Climate Change and Sustainability Manager
County of Santa Clara
United States