State of the art analysis of cultural nudges to pro-environmental behaviour
Nudging is a concept rooted in behavioural economics, that leverages cognitive biases and decision-making heuristics to guide individuals toward choices that are beneficial for both themselves and society, without restricting their freedom of choice. The review highlights the most effective nudging strategies regarding climate change, underscores the influence of cultural factors on the success of interventions, and integrates insights from various geographical and cultural contexts throughout the European Union (EU), particularly in the Mediterranean region. The findings from this review analysis, provides key insights into the effectiveness of different strategies and policies that fed the methodological framework for the NUDGES pilots.
Project
NUDGES 
Mission
Green Living Areas
Production year
2024
Type of result
Mapping
Target audience
Higher education and research organisation, Interest groups incl. NGOs, Local public authority, National public authority, Regional public authority
Covered areas
Coastal area, Island, Marine area, Mountain area, Rural area, Urban area
Keywords
Climate change adaptation, Climate change mitigation, Community engagement in sustainability, Climate change and biodiversity
Partners
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki-Laboratory of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation
Issues addressed
The primary objective of this review is to analyse and summarise existing literature on the effectiveness of nudging interventions in promoting sustainable behaviors related to climate change mitigation. This includes examining how different types of nudges-such as default options, social norm nudges, and reminder nudges-impact behavioral outcomes across various cultural contexts within the EU. A key component of the review is the exploration of cultural factors that influence the effectiveness of these interventions, particularly in Mediterranean countries where community values and social norms play a significant role in decision-making.
Added value of the result
The two main assets of the document aren-tallowing for a comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of nudging interventions aimed at climate change mitigation.n-tA systematic review because it enables the integration of findings across multiple studies, providing a robust synthesis of evidence.n
Transferability potential
It is basically learning material to get the knowledge about the nudging as tool for influencing pro-environmental behaviours and mitigating the effects of climate change. It is first knowledge how nudging can provide a scalable solution for encouraging sustainable behaviour at both individual and societal levels. You need this knowledge to successfully run different nudging tools/solutions.
Contribution to SDGs
SDG 11 - Sustainable cities and communities, SDG 12 - Responsible consumption and production, SDG 13 - Climate action, SDG 3 - Good health and well-being
Contribution to the Strategies and EU Policies
EU Adaptation Strategy
