“Climate change is simply the biggest issue there is. It is the biggest threat out there to our economy, environment, health, way of life, our country, our world, and our future.” - Sir James Bevan
To see the full presentation, join us in central London where we regularly run discovery sessions. Visit corporateculture.co.uk/events to see what’s coming up, and contact Elaine Smith to register interest. elaine.smith@corporateculture.co.uk
Using behavioural insight to improve resilience to the climate crisis
1. P.1 CORPORATE CULTURE GROUP
USING BEHAVIOURAL INSIGHT TO IMPROVE
RESILIENCE TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS
2. P.2 CORPORATE CULTURE GROUP
SIR JAMES BEVAN, WHITEHALL AND
INDUSTRY GROUP, 16 APRIL 2019.1
“CLIMATE CHANGE
IS SIMPLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE
THERE IS. IT IS THE BIGGEST
THREAT OUT THERE TO OUR
ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT,
HEALTH, WAY OF LIFE, OUR
COUNTRY, OUR WORLD, AND
OUR FUTURE.”
3. P.3 CORPORATE CULTURE GROUP
CLIMATE CRISIS DISASTERS ARE HAPPENING
AT THE RATE OF ONE A WEEK.2
4. P.4 CORPORATE CULTURE GROUP
AND IT’S SET TO BECOME MORE EXTREME
oEarth’s temperatures could rise 1.5oC as early as 2030,
and 3-5oC by 2100.3
o38.5oC will be a normal UK Summer by the 2040s.4
oSea levels are rising at the fastest rate in 3000 years –
3mm per year.5
oCoastal erosion is displacing communities.6
oOne in six homes in England are at risk of flooding7 yet
the number of homes built in flood zones has
increased.8
5. CONSERVATISM BIAS, ITS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT
o Scientists have identified a pattern of consistent underestimation in assessments of
key climate indicators, and of the threat of climate disruption, driven by:
o the perceived need for consensus and to speak in a single voice
o a desire to protect reputation
o the context of climate denial – scientists go the extra mile to disprove the stereotype
o the institutional aspects of assessment, including who the authors are and how they are chosen, how the
substance is divided into chapters, and guidance emphasizing consensus.9
6. P.6 CORPORATE CULTURE GROUP
THE COST OF CLIMATE CHANGE
oClimate change could cost $69 trillion by 2100.10
oClimate change forecast to shrink global GDP by 7% by
2100, yet meeting 2oC target would improve global GDP
0.1% by 2030.11
oA severe drought would cost each household more than
£100. The cost per household of the investment that
would greatly reduce the risk is only £4/year.12
7. P.7 CORPORATE CULTURE GROUP
WE’RE NOT ACTING FAST ENOUGH
o Global carbon emissions increased 2% in 2017/1813
o TPI report assessing the climate performance of 274 of the world’s highest-
emitting publicly listed companies put investors on “emergency footing”:
o 46% do not adequately consider climate risk in operational decision making
o 86% are yet to undertake and disclose climate scenario planning.14
o The Committee on Climate Change said they are shocked there is no real
preparation to cope with heatwaves and flash floods, likening the UK’s climate
crisis preparations to “Dad’s Army”, adding that funding for programmes to
tackle problems resulting from global heating have been cut.15
8. PUBLIC PRESSURE IS MOUNTING
o 84% of global citizens agree that climate
change is a global catastrophic risk 16
o In the UK, climate change is now in the top
three issues consumers expect business to
take action on.17
o 84% of climate efforts disclosed by
businesses surveyed were not seen as strong
enough by consumers.18
9. P.9 CORPORATE CULTURE GROUP
BUT IT’S NOT TOO LATE
oIt is about human behavior: changing it.
“it’s less about the hardware in our cities and
more about the software in our heads.”
(Sir James Bevan, Whitehall and Industry group, 16 April 2019) 1
10. WHAT BEHAVIOURS UNDERPIN RESILIENCE?
o “resilience is the capacity of a system, be it an individual, a
forest, a city or an economy, to deal with change and continue to
develop. It is about how humans and nature can use shocks and
disturbances like a financial crisis or climate change to spur
renewal and innovative thinking.”19
o In developmental psychology, resilience encompasses:
1. achieving better than expected outcomes given risk
2. sustaining competence/ functioning under adverse conditions
3. regaining normal functioning following a period of exposure to trauma
or adversity
11. P.11 CORPORATE CULTURE GROUP
RESILIENCE How do we keep what
we really want to keep?
RELINQUISHMENT What do we need to let
go of in order to not
make matters worse?
RESTORATION What can we bring back
to help us with the
coming difficulties?
THE DEEP ADAPTATION AGENDA
12. WE WILL EXPLORE INSIGHTS FROM BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE
1. Context – Behaviour is a function of the person and the environment
2. Framing - Affects how we respond to information
3. Behavioural biases that prevent or encourage action
What are the drivers of risk behaviours?
How do we make decisions at times of uncertainty?
4. Behaviours, benefits and barriers – getting specific
5. Driving community participation and collective action
Nudging and boosting to build personal and collective agency and make it easy to act
Social influence – the strongest predictor of pro-environmental behaviours is your belief
that other people are doing them and think you should too.
The power of emotional appeals
Designing choice environments - climate resilient homes.
13. P.13 CORPORATE CULTURE GROUP
HERE AT CORPORATE CULTURE, WE HAVE OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND
KNOW-HOW IN THE BUSINESS OF CULTURE AND CHOICE
WRAP
LOVE FOOD HATE WASTE
£13BILLION SAVED
IN FIVE YEARS
59% DECREASE IN
SEWER BLOCKAGES
350% INCREASE IN
HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING
14. P.14 CORPORATE CULTURE GROUP
TO SEE THE FULL PRESENTATION,
JOIN US IN CENTRAL LONDON
WHERE WE REGULARLY RUN DISCOVERY
SESSIONS
VISIT
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ELAINE.SMITH@CORPORATECULTURE.CO.UK