Selected Publications
Xu, F., Nash, N. & Whitmarsh, L., Big data or small data? A methodological review of sustainable tourism, (2020) In : Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 28, 2, p. 147-166 20 p.
Howarth, C., Bryant, P., Corner, A., Fankhauser, S., Gouldson, A., Whitmarsh, L. & Willis, R., Building a Social Mandate for Climate Action: Lessons from COVID-19, (2020) In : Environmental and Resource Economics.
Paluszny, A., Graham, C. C., Daniels, K. A., Tsaparli, V., Xenias, D., Salimzadeh, S., Whitmarsh, L., Harrington, J. F. & Zimmerman, R. W., Caprock integrity and public perception studies of carbon storage in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, (2020) In : International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. 98, 103057.
Potoglou, D., Whittle, C., Tsouros, I. & Whitmarsh, L., Consumer intentions for alternative fuelled and autonomous vehicles: A segmentation analysis across six countries, (2020), In : Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. 79, 102243.
Healy, A., Upton, K., Capstick, S., Bristow, G., Tijani, M., Macdonald, A., Goni, I., Bukar, Y., Whitmarsh, L., Theis, S., Danert, K. & Allan, S., Domestic groundwater abstraction in Lagos, Nigeria: A disjuncture in the science-policy-practice interface?, (2020), In : Environmental Research Letters . 15, 4, 045006.
Balta-Ozkan, N., Watson, T., Connor, P. M., Axon, C. J., Whitmarsh, L., Spence, A. & Baker, P. E., FAR out? An examination of converging, diverging and intersecting smart grid futures in the United Kingdom, (2020), In : Energy Research and Social Science. 70, 101675.
Xu, F., Huang, L. & Whitmarsh, L., Home and away: cross-contextual consistency in tourists’ pro-environmental behavior, (2020), In : Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 28, 10, p. 1443-1459 17 p.
Nielsen, K. S., Clayton, S., Stern, P. C., Dietz, T., Capstick, S. & Whitmarsh, L., How Psychology Can Help Limit Climate Change, (2020), In : American Psychologist. 15 p.
Thorman, D., Whitmarsh, L. & Demski, C., Policy acceptance of low-consumption governance approaches: The effect of social norms and hypocrisy, (2020), In : Sustainability (Switzerland). 12, 3, 1247.
Nash, N. C., Whitmarsh, L. & Whittle, C., Rapid review of ‘moments of change’ & food-related behaviours, (2020), Food Standards Agency. 63 p.
Potoglou, D., Whitmarsh, L., Whittle, C., Tsouros, I., Haggar, P. & Persson, T., To what extent do people value sustainable-resourced materials? A choice experiment with cars and mobile phones across six countries, (2020), In : Journal of Cleaner Production. 246, 118957.
Bouman, T., Verschoor, M., Albers, C. J., Böhm, G., Fisher, S. D., Poortinga, W., Whitmarsh, L. & Steg, L., When worry about climate change leads to climate action: How values, worry and personal responsibility relate to various climate actions, (2020), In : Global Environmental Change. 62, 102061.
Further publications: https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/persons/lorraine-whitmarsh/publications/
Other
2023
Bednar-Friedl, Birgit; Biesbroek, Robbert; Schmidt, Daniela N.; Alexander, Peter; Børsheim, Knut Yngve; Carnicer, Jofre; Georgopoulou, Elena; Haasnoot, Marjolijn; Cozannet, Gonéri Le; Lionello, Piero; Lipka, Oksana; Möllmann, Christian; Muccione, Veruska; Mustonen, Tero; Piepenburg, Dieter; Whitmarsh, Lorraine; Benzie, Magnus; Berry, Pam; Burbi, Sara; Coppola, Erika; Domazet, Mladen; Ewert, Frank; Gasbarro, Federica; Gauly, Matthias; Gemenne, François; Greve, Peter; Iglesias, Ana; Kendon, Elizabeth; Kreibich, Heidi; Koutsias, Nikos; Laine-Petäjäkangas, Anna; Lalas, Dimitris; Gil, Cristina Linares; Markovic, Danijela; McEvoy, Sadie; Mijic, Ana; Muttarak, Raya; Nogherotto, Rita; Orru, Hans; Parrington, Mark; Price, Jeff; Raitio, Kaisa; Ferre, Marta Guadalupe Rivera; Semenza, Jan C.; Valbuena, Rubén; Vliet, Michelle; Webber, Heidi; Wendling, Laura; Yates, Katherine; Zurek, Monika; (IPCC), Intergovernmental Panel Climate Change
Europe Book Chapter
In: Climate Change 2022 – Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, pp. 1817–1928, IPCC, 2023.
@inbook{4c0f937617344f39bf2e997ad10d076c,
title = {Europe},
author = {Birgit Bednar-Friedl and Robbert Biesbroek and Daniela N. Schmidt and Peter Alexander and Knut Yngve Børsheim and Jofre Carnicer and Elena Georgopoulou and Marjolijn Haasnoot and Gonéri Le Cozannet and Piero Lionello and Oksana Lipka and Christian Möllmann and Veruska Muccione and Tero Mustonen and Dieter Piepenburg and Lorraine Whitmarsh and Magnus Benzie and Pam Berry and Sara Burbi and Erika Coppola and Mladen Domazet and Frank Ewert and Federica Gasbarro and Matthias Gauly and François Gemenne and Peter Greve and Ana Iglesias and Elizabeth Kendon and Heidi Kreibich and Nikos Koutsias and Anna Laine-Petäjäkangas and Dimitris Lalas and Cristina Linares Gil and Danijela Markovic and Sadie McEvoy and Ana Mijic and Raya Muttarak and Rita Nogherotto and Hans Orru and Mark Parrington and Jeff Price and Kaisa Raitio and Marta Guadalupe Rivera Ferre and Jan C. Semenza and Rubén Valbuena and Michelle Vliet and Heidi Webber and Laura Wendling and Katherine Yates and Monika Zurek and Intergovernmental Panel Climate Change (IPCC)},
doi = {10.1017/9781009325844.015},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-29},
booktitle = {Climate Change 2022 – Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability},
pages = {1817–1928},
publisher = {IPCC},
abstract = {Our current 1.1°C warmer world is already affecting natural and human systems in Europe (very high confidence1 ). Since AR5, there has been a substantial increase in detected or attributed impacts of climate change in Europe, including extreme events (high confidence). Impacts of compound hazards of warming and precipitation have become more frequent (medium confidence). Climate change has resulted in losses of, and damages to, people, ecosystems, food systems, infrastructure, energy and water availability, public health and the economy (very high confidence) 13.1.4;13.2.1;13.3.1;13.4.1; 13.5.1;13.6.1;13.7.1;13.8.1;13.10.1.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
Our current 1.1°C warmer world is already affecting natural and human systems in Europe (very high confidence1 ). Since AR5, there has been a substantial increase in detected or attributed impacts of climate change in Europe, including extreme events (high confidence). Impacts of compound hazards of warming and precipitation have become more frequent (medium confidence). Climate change has resulted in losses of, and damages to, people, ecosystems, food systems, infrastructure, energy and water availability, public health and the economy (very high confidence) 13.1.4;13.2.1;13.3.1;13.4.1; 13.5.1;13.6.1;13.7.1;13.8.1;13.10.1.
2021
Whitmarsh, Lorraine; Lorenzoni, Irene; Aruta, John Jamir Benzon; Day, Sophie
Commentary: Progress in understanding and overcoming barriers to public engagement with climate change Journal Article
In: Global Environmental Change-Human and Policy Dimensions, vol. 71, 2021, ISSN: 0959-3780.
@article{1daae4ee707f45f08f4a0bad72f2ada4,
title = {Commentary: Progress in understanding and overcoming barriers to public engagement with climate change},
author = {Lorraine Whitmarsh and Irene Lorenzoni and John Jamir Benzon Aruta and Sophie Day},
doi = {10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102403},
issn = {0959-3780},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-11-01},
journal = {Global Environmental Change-Human and Policy Dimensions},
volume = {71},
publisher = {Elsevier},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Moore, Brendan; Verfuerth, Caroline; Minas, Angela Mae; Tipping, Christianne; Mander, Sarah; Lorenzoni, Irene; Hoolohan, Claire; Jordan, Andrew J.; Whitmarsh, Lorraine
Transformations for climate change mitigation: A systematic review of terminology, concepts, and characteristics Journal Article
In: Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, vol. 12, no. 6, 2021, ISSN: 1757-7780, (Funding Information: Economic and Social Research Council (via the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations [CAST]), Grant/Award Number: ES/S012257/1; European Research Council (via DeepDCarb Advanced Grant Project), Grant/Award Number: 882601.).
@article{5f99d425d7bb45dbb12585241a12c2be,
title = {Transformations for climate change mitigation: A systematic review of terminology, concepts, and characteristics},
author = {Brendan Moore and Caroline Verfuerth and Angela Mae Minas and Christianne Tipping and Sarah Mander and Irene Lorenzoni and Claire Hoolohan and Andrew J. Jordan and Lorraine Whitmarsh},
doi = {10.1002/wcc.738},
issn = {1757-7780},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-11-01},
journal = {Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change},
volume = {12},
number = {6},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {Deep, broad, and rapid society-wide changes are urgently required to limit global temperature rise in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Since 2005, academics and policy makers have increasingly referred to such changes as transformations. This recent uptake and rapid diffusion of transformation-related concepts in research on climate change mitigation calls for a systematic and up-to-date analysis. In this article, we address this gap by undertaking a systematic review of articles that use transformation-related terms in the social science literature on climate change mitigation. Drawing on a corpus of 198 articles identified from Scopus, we find a diverse, fragmented research field that strongly focuses on the national, city, and international levels, the energy sector, and high-income countries. Although the use of transformation terminology has increased rapidly, there are few shared definitions, which arguably constitutes a serious challenge to scholarship and evidence-based policy making. To facilitate a more cumulative and impactful approach to research, we propose transformational climate change mitigation as a new umbrella term for the varied mitigation-related societal transformations required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. We conclude by identifying priorities for future research.},
note = {Funding Information: Economic and Social Research Council (via the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations [CAST]), Grant/Award Number: ES/S012257/1; European Research Council (via DeepDCarb Advanced Grant Project), Grant/Award Number: 882601.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Deep, broad, and rapid society-wide changes are urgently required to limit global temperature rise in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Since 2005, academics and policy makers have increasingly referred to such changes as transformations. This recent uptake and rapid diffusion of transformation-related concepts in research on climate change mitigation calls for a systematic and up-to-date analysis. In this article, we address this gap by undertaking a systematic review of articles that use transformation-related terms in the social science literature on climate change mitigation. Drawing on a corpus of 198 articles identified from Scopus, we find a diverse, fragmented research field that strongly focuses on the national, city, and international levels, the energy sector, and high-income countries. Although the use of transformation terminology has increased rapidly, there are few shared definitions, which arguably constitutes a serious challenge to scholarship and evidence-based policy making. To facilitate a more cumulative and impactful approach to research, we propose transformational climate change mitigation as a new umbrella term for the varied mitigation-related societal transformations required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. We conclude by identifying priorities for future research.
2020
Jenkins, Rhosanna; Minns, Asher; Whitmarsh, Lorraine
Best practice through interdisciplinarity for researching global environmental challenges Technical Report
Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research no. 166, 2020.
@techreport{25a1c8f27e8f4966b3115d8fe0361c43,
title = {Best practice through interdisciplinarity for researching global environmental challenges},
author = {Rhosanna Jenkins and Asher Minns and Lorraine Whitmarsh},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-12-01},
number = {166},
publisher = {Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research},
institution = {Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research},
series = {Tyndall Centre Working Paper},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Whitmarsh, Lorraine; Capstick, Stuart; Moore, Isabelle; Köhler, Jana; Quéré, Corinne Le
Use of aviation by climate change researchers: Structural influences, personal attitudes, and information provision Journal Article
In: Global Environmental Change-Human and Policy Dimensions, vol. 65, 2020, ISSN: 0959-3780, (Correction at 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102202).
@article{d0fff0a4ac834b6983045ebd25bdc58c,
title = {Use of aviation by climate change researchers: Structural influences, personal attitudes, and information provision},
author = {Lorraine Whitmarsh and Stuart Capstick and Isabelle Moore and Jana Köhler and Corinne Le Quéré},
doi = {10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102184},
issn = {0959-3780},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-11-01},
journal = {Global Environmental Change-Human and Policy Dimensions},
volume = {65},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {Aviation is a fast-growing sector, releasing more carbon dioxide per passenger kilometre than other transport modes. For climate change researchers, work-related travel – including for conferences and fieldwork – is a major carbon-emitting activity. At the same time, many argue that climate scientists have an important role in curbing their own aviation emissions to align their practices with their assertions in relation to emissions reduction. We examine the tensions between competing professional demands in relation to flying; measure levels of flying by climate and non-climate researchers; assess influences on choices and attitudes; and consider how information provision and structural changes might enable changes in practice. Study 1 entails a large, international survey of flying undertaken by climate change (including sustainability and environmental science) researchers and those from other disciplines (N = 1408). Study 2 tests effects of varying information provision on researchers’ behavioural intentions and policy support to reduce flying (N = 362). Unexpectedly, we find climate change researchers – particularly professors – fly more than other researchers, but are also more likely to have taken steps to reduce or offset their flying. Providing information about the impacts of aviation increases behavioural intentions and support for institutional policies to reduce flying, particularly amongst more pro-environmental respondents. However, while attitudinal factors (e.g., personal norm) predict willingness to reduce flying, structural/social factors (e.g., family commitments, location) are more important in predicting actual flying behaviour. Recent initiatives to develop a low-carbon and more inclusive research culture within climate science and the broader research community thus need to be supported by broader policies and technologies to encourage and enable low-carbon and avoided travel.},
note = {Correction at 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102202},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Aviation is a fast-growing sector, releasing more carbon dioxide per passenger kilometre than other transport modes. For climate change researchers, work-related travel – including for conferences and fieldwork – is a major carbon-emitting activity. At the same time, many argue that climate scientists have an important role in curbing their own aviation emissions to align their practices with their assertions in relation to emissions reduction. We examine the tensions between competing professional demands in relation to flying; measure levels of flying by climate and non-climate researchers; assess influences on choices and attitudes; and consider how information provision and structural changes might enable changes in practice. Study 1 entails a large, international survey of flying undertaken by climate change (including sustainability and environmental science) researchers and those from other disciplines (N = 1408). Study 2 tests effects of varying information provision on researchers’ behavioural intentions and policy support to reduce flying (N = 362). Unexpectedly, we find climate change researchers – particularly professors – fly more than other researchers, but are also more likely to have taken steps to reduce or offset their flying. Providing information about the impacts of aviation increases behavioural intentions and support for institutional policies to reduce flying, particularly amongst more pro-environmental respondents. However, while attitudinal factors (e.g., personal norm) predict willingness to reduce flying, structural/social factors (e.g., family commitments, location) are more important in predicting actual flying behaviour. Recent initiatives to develop a low-carbon and more inclusive research culture within climate science and the broader research community thus need to be supported by broader policies and technologies to encourage and enable low-carbon and avoided travel.
2017
Whitmarsh, Lorraine; Capstick, Stuart; Nash, Nicholas
Who is reducing their material consumption and why? A cross-cultural analysis of dematerialization behaviours Journal Article
In: 2017.
@article{1648,
title = {Who is reducing their material consumption and why? A cross-cultural analysis of dematerialization behaviours},
author = {Lorraine Whitmarsh and Stuart Capstick and Nicholas Nash},
doi = {DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2016.0376},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
abstract = {<p>The environmental and economic imperatives to dematerialize economies, or textquoterightdo more with lesstextquoteright, have been established for some years. Yet, to date, little is known about the personal drivers associated with dematerializing. This paper explores the prevalence and profile of those who are taking action to reduce consumption in different cultural contexts (UK and Brazil) and considers influences on dematerialization behaviours. We find that exemplar behaviours (avoiding buying new things and avoiding packaging) are far less common than archetypal environmental behaviours (e.g. recycling), but also that cultural context is important (Brazilians are more likely to reduce their material consumption than people in the UK). We also find that the two dematerialization behaviours are associated with different pro-environmental actions (more radical action versus green consumption, respectively); and have distinct, but overlapping, psychological (e.g. identity) and socio-demographic (e.g. education) predictors. Comparing a more traditional value-identity model of pro-environmental behaviour with a motivation-based (self-determination) model, we find that the latter explains somewhat more variance than the former. However, overall, little variance is explained, suggesting that additional factors at the personal and structural levels are important for determining these consumption behaviours. We conclude by outlining policy implications and avenues for further research.</p>},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
<p>The environmental and economic imperatives to dematerialize economies, or textquoterightdo more with lesstextquoteright, have been established for some years. Yet, to date, little is known about the personal drivers associated with dematerializing. This paper explores the prevalence and profile of those who are taking action to reduce consumption in different cultural contexts (UK and Brazil) and considers influences on dematerialization behaviours. We find that exemplar behaviours (avoiding buying new things and avoiding packaging) are far less common than archetypal environmental behaviours (e.g. recycling), but also that cultural context is important (Brazilians are more likely to reduce their material consumption than people in the UK). We also find that the two dematerialization behaviours are associated with different pro-environmental actions (more radical action versus green consumption, respectively); and have distinct, but overlapping, psychological (e.g. identity) and socio-demographic (e.g. education) predictors. Comparing a more traditional value-identity model of pro-environmental behaviour with a motivation-based (self-determination) model, we find that the latter explains somewhat more variance than the former. However, overall, little variance is explained, suggesting that additional factors at the personal and structural levels are important for determining these consumption behaviours. We conclude by outlining policy implications and avenues for further research.</p>
2015
Quéré, Corinne Le; Capstick, Stuart; Corner, Adam; Cutting, David; Johnson, Martin; Minns, Asher; Schroeder, Heike; Walker-Springett, Kate; Whitmarsh, Lorraine; Wood, Ruth
Towards a culture of low-carbon research for the 21st Century Technical Report
Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research 2015.
@techreport{41a1b7e92a454ab6a2f8e6f4bbbe6047,
title = {Towards a culture of low-carbon research for the 21st Century},
author = {Corinne Le Quéré and Stuart Capstick and Adam Corner and David Cutting and Martin Johnson and Asher Minns and Heike Schroeder and Kate Walker-Springett and Lorraine Whitmarsh and Ruth Wood},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-03-01},
publisher = {Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research},
institution = {Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research},
abstract = {The research community has highlighted for several decades the implications of greenhouse gas emissions for climate change. In response, world governments have agreed to limit global temperature change to 2°C, which requires drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In advanced economies, a commitment to a 2°C limit generally represents a reduction of emissions of between 80-95% from the 1990 baseline. Despite this, emissions from international aviation increased by 53 % between 1990 and 2011 in those countries. Academic researchers are among the highest emitters, primarily as a result of emissions from flying to conferences, project meetings, and fieldwork. Here we review the rationale for and alternatives to the current high-carbon research culture. We find no clear obstacles to justify an exemption for the research community from the emission reduction targets applied elsewhere. While stimulating ideas and creating personal links of trust are important benefits of face-to-face meetings, these benefits may be outweighed by the opportunities to reach much wider communities by developing and using new social media and online platforms. We argue that the research community needs a roadmap to reduce its emissions following government targets, which ironically are based on findings of the research community. A roadmap to a low-carbon research space would need simple monitoring, an example of which is presented here and documents the Tyndall Travel Tracker, incentives from international and national research platforms and funders, and a fundamental change in the research culture to align the walk with the talk. Such a change in practice would strengthen the trust of the public in research.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
The research community has highlighted for several decades the implications of greenhouse gas emissions for climate change. In response, world governments have agreed to limit global temperature change to 2°C, which requires drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In advanced economies, a commitment to a 2°C limit generally represents a reduction of emissions of between 80-95% from the 1990 baseline. Despite this, emissions from international aviation increased by 53 % between 1990 and 2011 in those countries. Academic researchers are among the highest emitters, primarily as a result of emissions from flying to conferences, project meetings, and fieldwork. Here we review the rationale for and alternatives to the current high-carbon research culture. We find no clear obstacles to justify an exemption for the research community from the emission reduction targets applied elsewhere. While stimulating ideas and creating personal links of trust are important benefits of face-to-face meetings, these benefits may be outweighed by the opportunities to reach much wider communities by developing and using new social media and online platforms. We argue that the research community needs a roadmap to reduce its emissions following government targets, which ironically are based on findings of the research community. A roadmap to a low-carbon research space would need simple monitoring, an example of which is presented here and documents the Tyndall Travel Tracker, incentives from international and national research platforms and funders, and a fundamental change in the research culture to align the walk with the talk. Such a change in practice would strengthen the trust of the public in research.
Capstick, Stuart; Lorenzoni, Irene; Corner, Adam; Whitmarsh, Lorraine
Prospects for radical emissions reduction through behaviour and lifestyle change Journal Article
In: Carbon Management, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 429–445, 2015, ISSN: 1758-3004, (© 2015 The author(s). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.).
@article{ec6644e5850b473e9d96c09e23a32421,
title = {Prospects for radical emissions reduction through behaviour and lifestyle change},
author = {Stuart Capstick and Irene Lorenzoni and Adam Corner and Lorraine Whitmarsh},
doi = {10.1080/17583004.2015.1020011},
issn = {1758-3004},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-01-01},
journal = {Carbon Management},
volume = {5},
number = {4},
pages = {429–445},
publisher = {Future Science},
abstract = {Over the past two decades, scholars and practitioners across the social sciences, in policy and beyond have proposed, trialled and developed a wide range of theoretical and practical approaches designed to bring about changes in behaviours and lifestyles that contribute to climate change. With the exception of the establishment of a small number of iconic behaviours such as recycling, it has however proved extremely difficult to bring about meaningful transformations in personal greenhouse gas emissions at either the individual or societal level, with multiple reviews now pointing to the limited efficacy of current approaches. We argue that the majority of approaches designed to achieve mitigation have been constrained by the need to operate within prevailing social scientific, economic and political orthodoxies which have precluded the possibility of non-marginal change. In this paper we ask what a truly radical approach to reducing personal emissions would look like from social science perspectives which challenge the unstated assumptions severely limiting action to date, and which explore new alternatives for change. We emphasise the difficulties likely to impede the instituting of genuinely radical societal change regarding climate change mitigation, whilst proposing ways that the ground could be prepared for such a transformation to take place.},
note = {© 2015 The author(s). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Over the past two decades, scholars and practitioners across the social sciences, in policy and beyond have proposed, trialled and developed a wide range of theoretical and practical approaches designed to bring about changes in behaviours and lifestyles that contribute to climate change. With the exception of the establishment of a small number of iconic behaviours such as recycling, it has however proved extremely difficult to bring about meaningful transformations in personal greenhouse gas emissions at either the individual or societal level, with multiple reviews now pointing to the limited efficacy of current approaches. We argue that the majority of approaches designed to achieve mitigation have been constrained by the need to operate within prevailing social scientific, economic and political orthodoxies which have precluded the possibility of non-marginal change. In this paper we ask what a truly radical approach to reducing personal emissions would look like from social science perspectives which challenge the unstated assumptions severely limiting action to date, and which explore new alternatives for change. We emphasise the difficulties likely to impede the instituting of genuinely radical societal change regarding climate change mitigation, whilst proposing ways that the ground could be prepared for such a transformation to take place.
2014
Lorenzoni, Irene; Whitmarsh, Lorraine
Climate change and perceptions, behaviors, and communication research after the IPCC 5th Assessment Report – a WIREs Editorial: Climate change and perceptions, behaviors, and communication research Journal Article
In: Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, vol. 5, no. 6, pp. 703–708, 2014, ISSN: 1757-7780.
@article{ee4101904a1f490b9d9bf51b8e17c4b0,
title = {Climate change and perceptions, behaviors, and communication research after the IPCC 5th Assessment Report - a WIREs Editorial: Climate change and perceptions, behaviors, and communication research},
author = {Irene Lorenzoni and Lorraine Whitmarsh},
doi = {10.1002/wcc.319},
issn = {1757-7780},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-01-01},
journal = {Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change},
volume = {5},
number = {6},
pages = {703–708},
publisher = {Wiley},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2013
Bows-Larkin, Alice; Jordan, Andrew; Rayner, Tim; Schroeder, Heike; Adger, Neil; Anderson, Kevin; Bows, Alice; Quéré, Corinne Le; Joshi, Manoj; Mander, Sarah; Vaughan, Nem; Whitmarsh, Lorraine
Going beyond two degrees? The risks and opportunities of alternative options Journal Article
In: Climate Policy, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 751–769, 2013, ISSN: 1469-3062.
@article{8b194b7972fb4103aa03a67e489cd498b,
title = {Going beyond two degrees? The risks and opportunities of alternative options},
author = {Alice Bows-Larkin and Andrew Jordan and Tim Rayner and Heike Schroeder and Neil Adger and Kevin Anderson and Alice Bows and Corinne Le Quéré and Manoj Joshi and Sarah Mander and Nem Vaughan and Lorraine Whitmarsh},
doi = {10.1080/14693062.2013.835705},
issn = {1469-3062},
year = {2013},
date = {2013-11-01},
journal = {Climate Policy},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {751–769},
publisher = {Earthscan},
abstract = {Since the mid-1990s, the aim of keeping climate change within 2 °C has become firmly entrenched in policy discourses. In the past few years, the likelihood of achieving it has been increasingly called into question. The debate around what to do with a target that seems less and less achievable is, however, only just beginning. As the UN commences a two-year review of the 2 °C target, this article moves beyond the somewhat binary debates about whether or not it should or will be met, in order to analyse more fully some of the alternative options that have been identified but not fully explored in the existing literature. For the first time, uncertainties, risks, and opportunities associated with four such options are identified and synthesized from the literature. The analysis finds that the significant risks and uncertainties associated with some options may encourage decision makers to recommit to the 2 °C target as the least unattractive course of action. © 2013 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Since the mid-1990s, the aim of keeping climate change within 2 °C has become firmly entrenched in policy discourses. In the past few years, the likelihood of achieving it has been increasingly called into question. The debate around what to do with a target that seems less and less achievable is, however, only just beginning. As the UN commences a two-year review of the 2 °C target, this article moves beyond the somewhat binary debates about whether or not it should or will be met, in order to analyse more fully some of the alternative options that have been identified but not fully explored in the existing literature. For the first time, uncertainties, risks, and opportunities associated with four such options are identified and synthesized from the literature. The analysis finds that the significant risks and uncertainties associated with some options may encourage decision makers to recommit to the 2 °C target as the least unattractive course of action. © 2013 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis.
Bows-Larkin, Alice; Jordan, Andrew; Rayner, Tim; Schroeder, Heike; Adger, Neil; Anderson, Kevin; Bows, Alice; Quéré, Corinne Le; Joshi, Manoj; Mander, Sarah; Vaughan, Nem; Whitmarsh, Lorraine
Going beyond two degrees? The risks and opportunities of alternative options Journal Article
In: Climate Policy, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 751–769, 2013, ISSN: 1469-3062.
@article{8b194b7972fb4103aa03a67e489cd498,
title = {Going beyond two degrees? The risks and opportunities of alternative options},
author = {Alice Bows-Larkin and Andrew Jordan and Tim Rayner and Heike Schroeder and Neil Adger and Kevin Anderson and Alice Bows and Corinne Le Quéré and Manoj Joshi and Sarah Mander and Nem Vaughan and Lorraine Whitmarsh},
doi = {10.1080/14693062.2013.835705},
issn = {1469-3062},
year = {2013},
date = {2013-11-01},
journal = {Climate Policy},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {751–769},
publisher = {Taylor & Francis},
abstract = {Since the mid-1990s, the aim of keeping climate change within 2 °C has become firmly entrenched in policy discourses. In the past few years, the likelihood of achieving it has been increasingly called into question. The debate around what to do with a target that seems less and less achievable is, however, only just beginning. As the UN commences a two-year review of the 2 °C target, this article moves beyond the somewhat binary debates about whether or not it should or will be met, in order to analyse more fully some of the alternative options that have been identified but not fully explored in the existing literature. For the first time, uncertainties, risks, and opportunities associated with four such options are identified and synthesized from the literature. The analysis finds that the significant risks and uncertainties associated with some options may encourage decision makers to recommit to the 2 °C target as the least unattractive course of action. © 2013 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Since the mid-1990s, the aim of keeping climate change within 2 °C has become firmly entrenched in policy discourses. In the past few years, the likelihood of achieving it has been increasingly called into question. The debate around what to do with a target that seems less and less achievable is, however, only just beginning. As the UN commences a two-year review of the 2 °C target, this article moves beyond the somewhat binary debates about whether or not it should or will be met, in order to analyse more fully some of the alternative options that have been identified but not fully explored in the existing literature. For the first time, uncertainties, risks, and opportunities associated with four such options are identified and synthesized from the literature. The analysis finds that the significant risks and uncertainties associated with some options may encourage decision makers to recommit to the 2 °C target as the least unattractive course of action. © 2013 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis.
Jordan, Andrew; Rayner, Tim; Schroeder, Heike; Adger, Neil; Anderson, Kevin; Bows, Alice; Quéré, Corinne Le; Joshi, Manoj; Mander, Sarah; Vaughan, Naomi; Whitmarsh, Lorraine
Going beyond two degrees? The risks and opportunities of alternative options Journal Article
In: Climate Policy, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 751–769, 2013, ISSN: 1469-3062, (Gold Open Access).
@article{6001d9b8f7614b2ba1fdfaf1be91f698,
title = {Going beyond two degrees? The risks and opportunities of alternative options},
author = {Andrew Jordan and Tim Rayner and Heike Schroeder and Neil Adger and Kevin Anderson and Alice Bows and Corinne Le Quéré and Manoj Joshi and Sarah Mander and Naomi Vaughan and Lorraine Whitmarsh},
doi = {10.1080/14693062.2013.835705},
issn = {1469-3062},
year = {2013},
date = {2013-11-01},
journal = {Climate Policy},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {751–769},
publisher = {Earthscan},
abstract = {Since the mid-1990s, the aim of keeping climate change within 2 °C has become firmly entrenched in policy discourses. In the past few years, the likelihood of achieving it has been increasingly called into question. The debate around what to do with a target that seems less and less achievable is, however, only just beginning. As the UN commences a two-year review of the 2 °C target, this article moves beyond the somewhat binary debates about whether or not it should or will be met, in order to analyse more fully some of the alternative options that have been identified but not fully explored in the existing literature. For the first time, uncertainties, risks, and opportunities associated with four such options are identified and synthesized from the literature. The analysis finds that the significant risks and uncertainties associated with some options may encourage decision makers to recommit to the 2 °C target as the least unattractive course of action.},
note = {Gold Open Access},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Since the mid-1990s, the aim of keeping climate change within 2 °C has become firmly entrenched in policy discourses. In the past few years, the likelihood of achieving it has been increasingly called into question. The debate around what to do with a target that seems less and less achievable is, however, only just beginning. As the UN commences a two-year review of the 2 °C target, this article moves beyond the somewhat binary debates about whether or not it should or will be met, in order to analyse more fully some of the alternative options that have been identified but not fully explored in the existing literature. For the first time, uncertainties, risks, and opportunities associated with four such options are identified and synthesized from the literature. The analysis finds that the significant risks and uncertainties associated with some options may encourage decision makers to recommit to the 2 °C target as the least unattractive course of action.
Whitmarsh, Lorraine; O’Neill, Saffron; Lorenzoni, Irene
Public engagement with climate change: What do we know and where do we go form here? Journal Article
In: International Journal of Media & Cultural Politics, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 7–25, 2013, ISSN: 2040-0918.
@article{6683496bb7a14834b70199827ebf9928,
title = {Public engagement with climate change: What do we know and where do we go form here?},
author = {Lorraine Whitmarsh and Saffron O'Neill and Irene Lorenzoni},
doi = {10.1386/macp.9.1.7_1},
issn = {2040-0918},
year = {2013},
date = {2013-03-01},
journal = {International Journal of Media & Cultural Politics},
volume = {9},
number = {1},
pages = {7–25},
publisher = {Intellect Publishers},
abstract = {Climate change is an issue with fundamental implications for societies and individuals. These implications range from our everyday choices about resource use and lifestyles, through how we adjust to an unprecedented rate of environmental change, to our role in debating and enacting accompanying social transitions. This article outlines the various ways in which members of society (‘publics’) may be engaged in efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and then provides a synthesis of lessons about public engagement which span both theoretical and practical insights. These include the diverse drivers of, and barriers to, engagement; the importance of multiple forms of engagement and messages; and a critical need to evaluate and identify successful examples of engagement. We conclude by outlining priorities for future research, policy and practice.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Climate change is an issue with fundamental implications for societies and individuals. These implications range from our everyday choices about resource use and lifestyles, through how we adjust to an unprecedented rate of environmental change, to our role in debating and enacting accompanying social transitions. This article outlines the various ways in which members of society (‘publics’) may be engaged in efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and then provides a synthesis of lessons about public engagement which span both theoretical and practical insights. These include the diverse drivers of, and barriers to, engagement; the importance of multiple forms of engagement and messages; and a critical need to evaluate and identify successful examples of engagement. We conclude by outlining priorities for future research, policy and practice.
2011
Whitmarsh, Lorraine; O’Neill, Saffron J.; Lorenzoni, Irene
Climate change or social change? Debate within, amongst, and beyond disciplines Journal Article
In: Environment and Planning A, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 258–261, 2011.
@article{83062b256bcb407aaf9c1b67c57e86e9,
title = {Climate change or social change? Debate within, amongst, and beyond disciplines},
author = {Lorraine Whitmarsh and Saffron J. O'Neill and Irene Lorenzoni},
doi = {10.1068/a43359},
year = {2011},
date = {2011-01-01},
journal = {Environment and Planning A},
volume = {43},
number = {2},
pages = {258–261},
publisher = {Pion Ltd.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2010
Whitmarsh, Lorraine; Lorenzoni, Irene
Behaviour, perceptions, and communication of climate change Journal Article
In: Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 158–161, 2010, ISSN: 1757-7799.
@article{fa20818c132b4ceaac06165ade95143e,
title = {Behaviour, perceptions, and communication of climate change},
author = {Lorraine Whitmarsh and Irene Lorenzoni},
doi = {10.1002/wcc.7},
issn = {1757-7799},
year = {2010},
date = {2010-01-01},
journal = {Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change},
volume = {1},
number = {2},
pages = {158–161},
publisher = {Wiley},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2009
Whitmarsh, Lorraine; Turnpenny, John; Nykvist, Bjőrn
Beyond the regime: Can integrated sustainability assessment address the barriers to effective sustainable passenger mobility policy? Journal Article
In: Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, vol. 52, no. 8, pp. 973–991, 2009, ISSN: 1360-0559.
@article{472174260d524f4597d8d7df51f28350,
title = {Beyond the regime: Can integrated sustainability assessment address the barriers to effective sustainable passenger mobility policy?},
author = {Lorraine Whitmarsh and John Turnpenny and Bjőrn Nykvist},
doi = {10.1080/09640560903327286},
issn = {1360-0559},
year = {2009},
date = {2009-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Environmental Planning and Management},
volume = {52},
number = {8},
pages = {973–991},
publisher = {Routledge},
abstract = {Sustainability policy making is hampered by a tendency towards sector-based, short-term and often techno-fix perspectives. This paper describes a novel policy development and assessment framework - Integrated Sustainability Assessment (ISA) - that may help address problems of unsustainability in a more integrated and strategic manner. ISA involves two primary methods: transition analysis and stakeholder engagement. The ISA case study on sustainable passenger mobility suggests ISA is well equipped to produce a holistic analysis of mobility systems, illustrate radical alternatives to the status quo and foster social learning. Further research should explore its potential to induce long-term behavioural or institutional change.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Sustainability policy making is hampered by a tendency towards sector-based, short-term and often techno-fix perspectives. This paper describes a novel policy development and assessment framework – Integrated Sustainability Assessment (ISA) – that may help address problems of unsustainability in a more integrated and strategic manner. ISA involves two primary methods: transition analysis and stakeholder engagement. The ISA case study on sustainable passenger mobility suggests ISA is well equipped to produce a holistic analysis of mobility systems, illustrate radical alternatives to the status quo and foster social learning. Further research should explore its potential to induce long-term behavioural or institutional change.
2008
Carney, Sebastian; Whitmarsh, Lorraine; Nicholson-Cole, Sophie A.; Shackley, Simon
A Dynamic Typology of Stakeholder Engagement within Climate Change Research: Tyndall Working paper 128 Technical Report
Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research 2008.
@techreport{f2cc40bb35d64dcdb713d0f21c5b4998,
title = {A Dynamic Typology of Stakeholder Engagement within Climate Change Research: Tyndall Working paper 128},
author = {Sebastian Carney and Lorraine Whitmarsh and Sophie A. Nicholson-Cole and Simon Shackley},
year = {2008},
date = {2008-01-01},
publisher = {Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research},
institution = {Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Nicholson-Cole, Sophie; Whitmarsh, Lorraine
Researching with stakeholders: Lessons from interdisciplinary climate change research Miscellaneous
2008.
@misc{ba1561a2e1bf43b48a8faf722b0f0e50,
title = {Researching with stakeholders: Lessons from interdisciplinary climate change research},
author = {Sophie Nicholson-Cole and Lorraine Whitmarsh},
year = {2008},
date = {2008-01-01},
publisher = {Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research},
series = {Tyndall Centre Briefing Note No. 32},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {misc}
}
2007
Lorenzoni, Irene; Nicholson-Cole, Sophie; Whitmarsh, Lorraine; Day, Sophie
Barriers perceived to engaging with climate change among the UK public and their policy implications Journal Article
In: Global Environmental Change-Human and Policy Dimensions, vol. 17, no. 3-4, pp. 445–459, 2007.
@article{ba0dc739be594b91aef4932368755bcf,
title = {Barriers perceived to engaging with climate change among the UK public and their policy implications},
author = {Irene Lorenzoni and Sophie Nicholson-Cole and Lorraine Whitmarsh and Sophie Day},
doi = {10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2007.01.004},
year = {2007},
date = {2007-01-01},
journal = {Global Environmental Change-Human and Policy Dimensions},
volume = {17},
number = {3-4},
pages = {445–459},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {This paper reports on the barriers that members of the UK public perceive to engaging with climate change. It draws upon three mixed-method Studies, with an emphasis on the qualitative data which offer an in-depth insight into how people make sense of climate change. The paper defines engagement as an individual's state, comprising three elements: cognitive, affective and behavioural. A number of common barriers emerge from the three studies, which operate broadly at 'individual' and 'social' levels. These major constraints to individual engagement with climate change have implications for achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gases in the UK. We argue that targeted and tailored information provision should be supported by wider structural change to enable citizens and communities to reduce their carbon dependency. Policy implications for effective engagement are discussed. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This paper reports on the barriers that members of the UK public perceive to engaging with climate change. It draws upon three mixed-method Studies, with an emphasis on the qualitative data which offer an in-depth insight into how people make sense of climate change. The paper defines engagement as an individual’s state, comprising three elements: cognitive, affective and behavioural. A number of common barriers emerge from the three studies, which operate broadly at ‘individual’ and ‘social’ levels. These major constraints to individual engagement with climate change have implications for achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gases in the UK. We argue that targeted and tailored information provision should be supported by wider structural change to enable citizens and communities to reduce their carbon dependency. Policy implications for effective engagement are discussed. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
