“Softening climate goals? That would be irresponsible.” IIASA Program Director Keywan Riahi, one of the world’s leading climate scientists and a member of the EU’s Scientific Advisory Board, is urging policymakers to stand firm on the EU’s 2040 climate target. Read the full interview ⏬

Out now: a new meta-analysis by former and current EP Groningen researchers finds that feeling like our own actions will make a difference appears to be the biggest deciding factor when it comes to more sustainable energy use and energy conservation at home: www.cell.com/cell-reports... 🧵

The lab group that researches together also (almost) wins pub quizzes together: a bunch of our colleagues came in a very respectable 2nd place in the great green pub quiz as part of @rug.nl's sustainability week! There's one more event tonight to end the week: www.rug.nl/about-ug/pro...

This game by @financialtimes.com shows the positive results of high impact (and high effort) sustainability measures, yet mostly overlooks the role of behavior change (with only a few solutions involving personal action). System change and behavior change are both crucial ig.ft.com/climate-game/

Meet the team! PhD Cedric Meyer is researching the role of farmer’s identities in the sustainable agriculture transition in the Netherlands as part of ReGeNL: youtube.com/shorts/uNNds...

Very cool! The BBC is featuring the new SHIFT website that we built with @kimberlynicholas.bsky.social to advance tailored, science-based personal climate actions. www.bbc.com/future/artic...

New commentary paper by our colleague @thijsbouman.bsky.social in @pnas.org on turning mass public support for proenvironmental goals into concrete actions: "Limited environmental action may be explained by a lack of ability or opportunity, rather than a lack of caring" @rug.nl @rug-gmw.bsky.social

As part of our Infra4NextGen project, @ess-survey.bsky.social has just released a new data summary that brings together insights from the European Social Survey, European Values Study, and the International Social Survey Programme... infra4nextgen.com/wp-content/u... (1/)

What kind of energy policy could we have if average people were part of discussions and decisions on energy matters? Our colleague PhD candidate Adrien Chanteloup and coauthors interviewed Dutch & French citizens about what they thought just energy governance could look like @rug-gmw.bsky.social

After a summer of heatwaves worsened by climate change, a new study shows EU citizens support climate policy like investments in/subsidies for train travel. But taxes on polluting behaviors such as flying or meat consumption are less popular: www.rug.nl/gmw/news/251... @rug-gmw.bsky.social

Cutting methane is one of the fastest ways to slow climate heating. Our new report explains how methane abatement can deliver cooling within years -- and why solutions are affordable, available, and urgent. Read: www.ccag.earth/reports/meth...

It's always worth resharing this research, which is just one of many papers that has affirmed that most people around the world believe climate change is happening, are concerned about it and perceive its consequences now (low psychological distance)

Wat is de signaalwarde van beleid? Tijdens een lezing op 2 oktober in Den Haag neemt ons collega Ellen van der Werff het publiek mee in de onderliggende processen en omstandigheden waaronder beleid dergelijke signalen geeft: www.binnl.nl/Beheer/Formu... @rug-gmw.bsky.social

Thanks @rug.nl for highlighting @gpalomovelez.bsky.social's recent paper on acceptability of and trust in hydrogen producers! In short: it depends on whether the hydrogen is green or blue, and whether the producers have a sustainable track record www.rug.nl/gmw/news/250...

Hoe zouden wetenschappelijke experts omgaan met de vele uitdagingen waarvoor Nederland staat, als ze het voor het zeggen hadden? Heleen de Coninck: "Het prettige is dat er al veel kan, en dat de meeste mensen best willen. Daarvan maken we nog te weinig gebruik." www.volkskrant.nl/kijkverder/v...

Most people around the world believe climate change is real and caused by humans. What is even more surprising? Most people—including the authors of this blog post—mistakenly assume the number of people who believe #climatechange is real to be lower than it is in reality. spsp.org/news/charact...

"We are often poor judges of the speed of cultural change, so we might currently be underestimating how open others are to hearing moral motives – if presented in a gentle way." Our former colleague and research collaborator Maddie Judge talks tipping points: phairsociety.org/2025/09/25/s...

Minder vlees en vaker de fiets. Het klinkt als klein bier, maar leefstijlverandering kan tot zeker een kwart van de uitstootreductie opleveren www.bnr.nl/podcast/duur...

Our fall quarterly newsletter is (honestly almost too) full of news, including: - A video with prof. Linda Steg about being a lead author on the next #IPCC report - Nine (!) recent research papers - Upcoming events (and vacancies) - Introductions of new colleagues mailchi.mp/dab9e8572724...

The Centre of Expertise for Group Dynamics in Society is open! Our colleagues + other researchers will study: ⬆️ bottom-up shifts in sustainability norms ↔️ public discourse polarization 📱 the role of online communication in polarization 📣 making minorities feel heard in public participation panels

If second hand experiences, like a VR Arctic experience or a nature documentary, can catalyze people to into becoming ambassadors for the (Ant)arctic, they could become critical tools to encourage pro-environmental behavior with a much lower environmental impact. epgroningen.nl/can-watching...

Historic High Seas Treaty is a "turning point for humanity" A United Nations treaty designed to protect the marine life and ecosystems of the high seas has received the 60th and final ratification needed to come into force. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/c...

Which #climate policies do EU citizens like – and which ones do they dislike? The results of a new survey of 19,000+ people across #Europe are now available in an online dashboard, showing how much EU citizens are willing to support different kinds of climate policies: capableclimate.eu/online-tool/

New paper out (our colleague adjunct prof. Lise Jans is co-author): "Contrary to prior work suggesting that vegans evoke resistance, our findings demonstrate shifts towards veg*nism in participants' attitudes, behaviors & biospheric values" www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... @rug-gmw.bsky.social

Research recap thread: Governments and businesses are seen as more responsible for and capable of addressing climate change, yet individual Dutch government and business employees don't consider themselves as responsible or capable: iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...

‘Politiek moet zich richten op grote klappers van energietransitie: wind op zee en elektrificeren industrie’, zegt PBL

Klimaatdoelen vrijwel uit zicht: beleid door kabinet 'afgeschaft, afgezwakt of teruggedraaid' rtl.nl/nieuws/klima...

Do you want to be a part of transforming #healthcare towards a greener, circular future? Campus Fryslân (@rug.nl) has a PhD vacancy focused on understanding/promoting #sustainable healthcare behavior from an Environmental Psychology perspective (deadline: 28 September): www.rug.nl/about-ug/wor...

Another inspiring episode of the BBC's "The Climate Question" with @exeter.ac.uk professor Lenton about tipping points: open.spotify.com/episode/0XZz... Our colleagues have studied tipping points extensively, and identified 5 key phases: www.cell.com/one-earth/fu...

Our former colleague Jorick Post & co-authors Berfu Ünal, Janet Veldstra, Dick de Waard & Linda Steg have a paper out in @tsr.international on how a driving simulation of Connected Automated Vehicles (CAVs) can increase acceptability & acceptance: tsr.international/TSR/article/... @rug.nl

Our first quarterly newsletter of the new academic year will be sent out in a few weeks! We've been busy bees this summer, and we'll be sharing our latest publications, recent news, introducing new staff members and more. Subscribe here: epgroningen.nl/sign-up-for-...

Congratulations to our colleague Elliot Sharpe for being a joint winner of best presentation during The British Environmental Psychology Society Annual Conference! Elliot explained how #efficacy, rather than #values, might explain the relationship between #education and #green voting. #BrEPS2025

What are you already doing for the #environment without even realising it? During #EuropeanResearchersNight at the #Groningen Forum (26 Sept) our colleagues Brian Wagner & Isabel Pacheco will explore what motivates - or hinders - us from taking everyday #climate action Get your tickets here:

The polling of 7,000 people by More in Common and Climate Outreach found three quarters of Brits believe climate change is important, while only 4 per cent say they're not worried about climate change because they do not believe it is real.

Is there more public support for climate policies when the public directly participates in climate policymaking? Professor Goda Perlaviciute’s latest paper looks into how and why public participation can increase social acceptance of pro-environmental policies: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Our colleague Xinran Wang used Twitter in a similar way: she studied public perceptions of what #climateactions are needed, which actors should/can act & which factors inhibit/enable actions using the discourse on climate actions on Twitter during COP26: epgroningen.nl/climate-acti...

www.socialevraagstukken.nl/beleid-moet-... "Overheden rekenen vaak op motivatie van burgers als motor van verandering. Volgens UvA hoogleraar @frenkvanharreveld.bsky.social moeten beleidscampagnes niet langer een opgeheven vingertje zijn, maar een partner in #gedragsverandering"

Wat kunnen we zelf doen aan #klimaatadaptatie? "In het verleden hebben we ingrijpende maatregelen genomen om in #Nederland te kunnen leven. De veranderende omstandigheden vragen opnieuw om dat te doen" @marjolijnhaasnoot.bsky.social in de @group.bnpparibas podcast ESG (Even Samen Gevat)

Our colleague professor Linda Steg (@rug-gmw.bsky.social) talks about the upcoming @ipcc.bsky.social assessment report (AR7), which she will contribute to as a lead author in Work Group 3's chapter on barriers/enablers of #climatechange #mitigation: www.youtube.com/shorts/B2sIU...

"The question is: how citizens can bring their values into discussions on #sustainable transitions?" Our colleague professor Goda Perlaviciute spoke why #publicparticipation matters when it comes to #climatechange in this in-depth interview with @rug.nl www.rug.nl/about-ug/lat...

🌍 What can we do as people to tackle climate change? Too often, the answer is framed narrowly around consumption choices. These choices are crucial for mitigation, but they’re only part of the story. We influence #climate change in many areas of our lives🧵

⚖️ Personal action is not a substitute for systemic change. But it can enable it. When we act in the roles available to us, we can shift norms, shape demand, and strengthen political momentum, thereby helping to accelerate ambitious climate action across society.

🚨 We’re hiring! 🚨 The Social&Environmental Psychology Group @ruhr-uni-bochum.de is recruiting 2 PhDs and 1 Postdoc as part of the ERC-funded SUSCON project on sustainable consumption. Details here: PhDs:👉 jobs.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/jobposting/7... Postdoc:👉 jobs.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/jobposting/e...

Here is a great thread from @kristiansn89.bsky.social This puts emission reducing consumption choices into context

This @nytimes.com quiz focuses on problem-focused individual #adaption measures against #climatechange, like preparing an emergency plan and taking flood preparedness measures. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/w... But there's so much more we can do: 🧵

Op dit moment staat een hele leuke #vacature open bij @utrechtuniversity.bsky.social‬ over visievorming voor de #Nederlandse #warmtetransitie: www.uu.nl/organisatie/...

"Al is de oplossing nog zo goed, zonder gedragsverandering is hij gedoemd te mislukken. Onderzoeker Berfu Ünal werpt een psychologisch licht op deze #gedragsverandering & deelt 5 academische bevindingen rondom het opschalen van mobiliteitsinnovaties" hivemagazine.hivemobility.nl/innoveervoor...

What helps us adopt #sustainable energy technologies? If we consider adoption as morally right, have a positive overall evaluation of the technology & feel capable of finding/using it, adoption is likelier. youtube.com/shorts/2NIZh... @rug.nl @rug-gmw.bsky.social @thijsbouman.bsky.social

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... Our colleague postdoc @gpalomovelez.bsky.social is a co-author on another new paper out this week, about the role of competence and integrity when it comes to trust of #sustainable food policy in #Chile and #Germany:

Find more detail : www.rug.nl/wubbo-ockels...