The Human Side of Sustainability: Behavioural Economics in Climate Action and Neutrality
摘要
Climate neutrality demands, therefore, not only a technological but also a change at the level of human behaviour. This chapter discusses the adaptation of behavioural economics in bringing about the desired change to promote sustainable practices and alleviate barriers to climate-neutral behaviour. Nudge theory, loss aversion, and social norms explain how cognitive bias, socioeconomic factors, and institutional constraints stand as barriers for sustainable behaviour. These challenges are counteracted by using the proposed INSPIRE framework, which combines strategies such as incentivization, nudges, feedback mechanisms, gamification, community-based interventions, reminders, and encouragement. Measurable impacts on carbon emissions have been seen in real-world examples such as programs for energy conservation, waste reduction, and adoption of renewable energy. Finally, the chapter addresses the policy implications of Behavioural Insights as a tool for integrating it with climate strategies, leveraging technologies like AI and IoT to scale interventions and promote cultural adaptability and inclusion. Methods of measuring intervention effects- challenges such as attribution and cultural differences are discussed along with recommendations for improved methodologies and multi-metric evaluation. Behavioural economics bridges the knowledge-action gap, offering effective tools for pro-environmental action. The book concludes with a call to policymakers, businesses, and communities to implement these insights to drive the transition to climate neutrality.