Behaviour in sustainability transitions: A mixed methods literature review

Abstract

Sustainability transitions require changing many behaviours embedded in production and consumption systems. Simultaneously, behavioural public policy is now a significant site of research-policy translation globally. Links between behaviour and system change are underdeveloped in both fields. Systematic review of current transitions literature found ∼4% of papers focused on behaviour. Two prominent perspectives on behaviour (labelled: ‘everyday’ and ‘strategic’) are critical of a focus on individuals, preferencing broader analysis. Two additional perspectives were identified - ‘automatic’ and ‘reflective’ - which highlight immediate and local influences on behaviour but underemphasise context. All four perspectives on behaviour draw on different conceptualisations, causality, methods and disciplinary foundations, and yet all have value and application to transitions. We argue that a complimentary and flexible approach to behaviour would benefit the field, considering the diversity of phases, scales and contexts of sustainability transitions. Transitions’ own behavioural perspectives could also help address behavioural public policy's challenges.