Our dependency on fossil fuels makes us vulnerable. Wars across the world are pushing up prices for households in the UK. Why keep waiting for the next crisis? We need to transition to clean power as fast as we can to protect people and our economy. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

New research out today by the Capable research project (including @zanmlakar.bsky.social and @thijsbouman.bsky.social) finds that the success of climate policy is often not determined by the loudest voices, but rather by a large group in between: the "conditional middle"

Job ad🌱: PhD position on climate change and cooperation in rural Asia, with Elise van Nederveen Meerkerk, Vigyan Ratnoo (Utrecht University) & Nina Hansen (University of Groningen) in an interdisciplinary project. Deadline: April 1, 2026. socion-program.org/vacancy/phd-...

We're looking forward to meeting potential future EP master's students today at the University College Groningen Alumni & Career Day! Several of our current and former master's students will be at the Master's Market to answer your questions about environmental psychology www.rug.nl/ucg/events/e...

After four years, Lorenzo Squintani is stepping down as director of the Wubbo Ockels School for Energy & Climate 🌱 During the WOS Day on 26 March, he will officially bid farewell under the motto 'stronger together through challenges'. Read more 👇 www.rug.nl/wubbo-ockels...

Our colleagues @gpalomovelez.bsky.social, Linda Steg & Goda Perlaviciute will present their work on fairness & trust perceptions of #hydrogen import policies during a (hybrid) workshop on 30 April hosted by the University of Portsmouth! Interested? Sign up here: forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

What's the behavioral & social sciences research master at @rug-gmw.bsky.social really like? Next week is the master's open day at @rug.nl so we asked Wencke, one of our current ReMa students, to share her top 3 tips for prospective students: youtube.com/shorts/kfdZS...

What motivates us to actually act on #climatechange? Prof. Linda Steg (@rug-gmw.bsky.social) spoke about people's intrinsic motivation to act pro-environmentally - and the context needed to facilitate action - during a seminar by @worldwildlife.org and the American Psychological Association:

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼-𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻s/𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? At the @d-b-stiftung.bsky.social Ladenburger Roundtable, Linda Steg & Brian Wagner were among the 17 researchers/practitioners who came together to talk pro-environmental behavior at work. @clarakuehner.bsky.social

Most people are concerned about the climate crisis, but all too often that doesn’t translate into action. This week we dig into the psychology behind ‘catastrophe apathy’ to understand the gap. With Lorraine Whitmarsh of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations. bit.ly/4jy5uiH

👩🏽‍🔬 How can a data-driven approach become part of sustainable laboratory behavior? Our colleagues + a team of @rug.nl researchers are among the 2026 winners of the Green Chemistry Education Awards from @beyondbenign.bsky.social, testing behavioral interventions to strengthen positive lab norms.

Congratulations to prof. Goda Perlaviciute on her appointment to the Dutch Council of Energy, an independent advisory body on the #energytransition, Dutch energy independence, and the government's vision for a #sustainable and #just energy system in the Netherlands through 2050.

When are small groups of people most effective at triggering social tipping necessary for convention change? @zanmlakar.bsky.social et al found consistent minorities are perceived both as more confident, which promotes tipping, AND as uncompromising, which surprisingly impedes tipping.

📢 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 🚨New report from 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘉𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 👉 Read the full report here: climate-advisory-board.europa.eu/reports-and-...

Terwijl Donald Trump met veel kabaal het Amerikaanse klimaatbeleid sloopt, bouwen miljoenen mensen overal op aarde onverstoorbaar door aan een duurzame toekomst. Zij zijn in de meerderheid – ze halen alleen de voorpagina niet. Lees het verhaal van @jelmermommers.bsky.social hier:

What's it like to do a (double degree) master with us? Cedric Meyer is a PhD now & began as a dual degree environmental psychology master's student. We asked him what inspired him to sign up for the master's and what he learned from it. @rug.nl @rug-gmw.bsky.social @leuphana.bsky.social

Our institute is hiring 1. an assistant professor (with TT) for Social Psychology (focus: environmental psychology) ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jo... 2. an assistant lecturer (with TT) for Experimental Personality Psychology ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jo...

CAST job opportunity: Join us as a Research Fellow at our centre hub, the University of Bath, leading a programme of quantitative behavioural research to advance understanding of climate-relevant behaviour change & life choices. 📣 Deadline: 16 March 2026 Apply now 👇 www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/Vacancy...

"De overheid onderschat hoeveel zorgen mensen zich maken over klimaatverandering, en ook wordt onderschat hoe groot het draagvlak voor maatregelen is", zegt Linda Steg, hoogleraar omgevingspsychologie aan de RuG en voorzitter van de commissie die het rapport opstelde." www.rtl.nl/nieuws/econo...

Congratulations to our colleague prof. Goda Perlaviciute on her appointment to the Dutch Council of Energy, an advisory council to the Dutch houses of parliament that will provide guidance on: ☀️ The energy transition ☀️ Dutch energy independence ☀️ The Dutch National Plan for the Energy System

Six “key truths” about climate change (from @yaleclimatecomm.bsky.social) 1: It’s real 2: It’s us 3: Experts agree 4: It’s bad 5: Others care 6: There’s hope

'Amsterdam passed a world-first motion seeking to end the "excesses" of unsustainable advertising, such as "flying vacations at rock-bottom prices". And the city's newly passed ban goes even further by restricting advertising for meat as well as fossil fuel products.' www.bbc.co.uk/future/artic...

More data points demonstrating agreement on climate and clean energy from @rare.org rare.org/stories-arti...

Nederland moet klimaatvriendelijk gedrag van burgers eindelijk eens echt gaan aanmoedigen, stelt de Wetenschappelijke Klimaatraad in een opvallend pinnig rapport. ‘We laten hier veel liggen.’ Interview met Linda Steg @klimaatraad.bsky.social in @volkskrant.nl www.volkskrant.nl/wetenschap/v...

Over the past ten years, the percent of Americans alarmed by the threat of global warming have more than doubled, from 11% in 2015 to 25% in 2025.

De meeste mensen wíllen wel keuzes maken die goed zijn voor de planeet, ze kunnen het alleen niet. Daarom moeten overheid en bedrijven ervoor zorgen dat je duurzame keuzes kunt maken. "Zij zijn verantwoordelijk voor het creëren van de omstandigheden waarin mensen duurzaam gedrag kúnnen vertonen."

Nederlanders willen zich duurzamer gedragen, maar overheid laat kansen liggen #klimaat

Een sterk voorbeeld van waarom #gedragsbeleid en #duurzaamheid zo'n grote rol kan (en moet) spelen

Nederlanders willen best minder vlees en minder vliegen, maar overheid zit in de weg #nieuws

It takes the top spot, mounted on the wall by my desk. I think it looks klaas, Thanks!

An advisory report by the Dutch Scientific Climate Council (WKR) - “Engage with behavior change! Making sustainable and adaptation behavior the norm” - out today, which our colleague Linda Steg chaired, makes clear that pro-environmental behavioral policy has huge potential to make positive change.

Thanks @petedyson.bsky.social for this thoughtful reflection on your research visit here with us in Groningen! Whatever did you end up doing with that green number plate that Sinterklaas brought you?

What does it mean to give space to discomfort, uncertainty, and adversity? Our former colleague Valentina Lozano Nasi will be speaking about her experience with transilience - the ability to not just bounce back, but thrive through adversity - on International Women's Day (8 March) in Groningen.

What is the environmental impact of research in science labs at universities? Brian Wagner will share insights from Environmental Psychology about how behavioral interventions can make science more #sustainable as part of the ENLIGHT Green Labs symposium in April at @rug.nl

"Responding to biodiversity loss requires different ways of seeing, deciding and working together" in order to create a system where "what is profitable for businesses aligns more often with what is good for biodiversity and society.​"

Het Klimaatonderzoek Initiatief Nederland werkt aan het versnellen van transities naar een rechtvaardige, klimaatneutrale en klimaatbestendige samenleving vanuit een systemische blik. Wat betekent klimaatrechtvaardigheid in de praktijk? hetkin.nl/klimaatrecht... (Photo: Yelena Odintskova/Pexels)

“Without the IPCC, there would be no Paris Agreement.” Ten years after the Paris Climate Accord, @ipcc.bsky.social authors at the @rug.nl make clear that #climatechange is not being stopped quickly enough - and there is more that we need to do. www.linkedin.com/posts/enviro...

UK facing more rain and flood risks due to climate crisis, new study warns www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...

“The scale of climate change we observe goes far beyond what historical adaptation strategies—such as switching livestock species or migrating herds—can handle. In many regions, especially Africa, the climatic shifts are simply too large." - Dr. Prajal Pradhan

PhD Isabel Pacheco and co-authors Ellen van der Werff and Linda Steg found that people rarely engage in #circular citizenship behaviours. How can we access all that untapped potential for #systemicchange through more citizen action in the future? Here's a thread on one of our recent papers🧵

💷⚡ Big boost for local green energy! The UK is pledging up to £1bn for community-owned renewable projects. Local areas could control, profit from, and even lower bills with their own clean power. 🌱🏘

Bijzonder hoogleraar Kim Poldner kan zich boos maken om schadelijke fast fashion bedrijven als Shein, maar haar academische werk - en persoonlijke missie - draait juist om wat wél kan: herstel, vernieuwing en toekomstkracht 👗👚🧦 Lees meer 👇 www.rug.nl/about-ug/lat...

Global economy must move past GDP to avoid planetary disaster, warns UN chief - António Guterres says world’s accounting systems should place true value on the environment #climatecrisis www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Ons collega Ellen van der Werff gaf vorig jaar een lezing over de signaalwaarde van beleid: "Als overheden, organisaties en instellingen duurzaam beleid invoeren is dat een extra duurzame context, waardoor beleid signaalwaarde kan hebben."

🤩🤩 Paper finally out in the AER! With my co-authors (incl. @bluebery-planterose.com & @s-stantcheva.bsky.social) we surveyed climate attitudes in 20 countries covering 72% of global emissions. In brief, people want ambitious, global, and fair climate policies. A 🧵⬇️ www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...

Come work with us! @thijsbouman.bsky.social is seeking a postdoc (3 years, full time) to investigate the pension sector: preferences, expectations & actions relevant to the sustainability transition among participants (people with a pension) & professionals (pension providers & investors) @rug.nl

For project developers, informing #citizens and consulting them for feedback is often an afterthought. Our colleague Goda Perlaviciute has found that getting people involved from the earliest stages of a project and taking their input seriously can be a make or break approach for #acceptability.

When it comes to projects facilitating the #sustainable #transition, citizens's trust in a developer can derive from either their competence (experience) or their integrity (transparency and principles). Our research has found that integrity-based trust makes a bigger difference, but both matter.

Design can drive socially-desirable behaviour change, so our colleagues tested whether environmentally-focused packaging designs promoted recycling. They found that intention to #recycle, and actual recycling, increased with stronger #biospheric values. gep.psychopen.eu/index.php/ge...