Behavioural Determinants of Climate Change Action & Adaptation

Intersection Between Climate Change and Health

In the wake of climate change and its negative impacts on natural ecosystems and human health, there is an urgent need to develop and implement climate adaptation strategies. These adaptation strategies encompass structural adaptations in response to the physical consequences of climate change, such as constructing floodwalls or designating wildfire zones, and must also address the driving forces of harmful human behaviour through the development of psychological adaptation strategies. Because anthropogenic activities have accelerated the earth’s changing climate in ways that harm our environment, social systems, economy, and health, it is our responsibility to understand the underlying factors that govern these climate-destructive behaviours and devise interventions that will encourage the adoption of pro-environmental behaviours.¹ Ultimately, organized behavioural change at the individual level will generate positive climate outcomes on a broader scale through collective action.

Rural and Indigenous populations are particularly vulnerable to the adverse health impacts of climate change and ecosystem disruption due to their heavy reliance on the natural environment and climate-dependent industries (e.g. agriculture, fishing, etc.).² Furthermore, these communities are often disadvantaged by health inequities stemming from various historical, social, political, and economic factors that further amplify the harmful effects of climate change and lead to disproportionate consequences to their health and access to resources.² This chapter specifically discusses the behavioural determinants of climate-related behaviour and how they intersect with the health of rural communities.

Role of Behavioural Determinants in Modifying Climate-Related Behaviour

Given that anthropogenic activity is the primary driver of climate change, our capacity to cope with climate change and its adverse consequences will require changes to how we directly and indirectly engage with our surrounding environment. While the responsibility of enacting this change is often ascribed to macro-level systems, such as government and industry, all layers of social organization must be involved in the process of transforming behaviours that affect our climate.² In particular, the effectiveness of encouraging environmentally protective practices at the individual, household, and community levels should not be overlooked.

It is necessary to identify the factors that provoke and govern human behaviour in order to influence climate-related behaviour on these micro-scales. In the context of climate action and adaptation, these factors are referred to as behavioural determinants. The USAID defines them as the “perceptions, feelings or beliefs shaped by socioeconomic, political, and cultural factors that can support or prevent the adoption of a specific behaviour.”² For example, we may face barriers in establishing a more sustainable lifestyle due to the financial burden of eating exclusively locally grown produce or the investment required to install solar panels. Identifying and analyzing these behavioural determinants will enable the modification of existing environmental-related behaviours, abandonment of harmful ones, and adoption of new practices that will promote adaptive and resilient outcomes.² Evidently, understanding these behavioural determinants will play an integral role in increasing pro-environmental behaviour, described as any form of protective action or activity with respect to the environment. Examples of pro-environmental behaviours include sustainable consumption habits, water and energy conservation, eco-friendly transportation, and responsible waste management.³ Furthermore, it is the development and implementation of targeted interventions that will shape these pro-environmental behaviours.