Many of us have found ourselves watching dreadful reports about climate change and wondering what we can do about it. Most people would acknowledge that climate change is a pressing concern; however, often the desire to make a change cannot be translated into effective actions. “Climate inaction” is sometimes not due to a lack of awareness or interest, but rather because we may simply not know what to do or because we do not believe that our small actions can actually make a difference.
You may have tried changing to paper straws, avoiding disposable shopping bags and other small changes, only to find yourself at a loss as to what to do next. “Should we stop eating meat? Should I stop taking flights at all? Will it be worth it?” are some of the questions that may have passed through your mind. Adding in the constant blitz of information and misinformation from social media, we could argue that many people struggle to know which actions truly have an impact..
To dissipate the confusion and provide clear, practical guidelines for meaningful change, we are pleased to announce the launch of the I-CHANGE Shifting Behaviour Cookbook, a collection of “recipes” for behavioural changes that can truly contribute to tackling climate change-related issues. The I-CHANGE team has reviewed dozens of possible climate action ideas, offering a curated selection of 25 of the most relevant, innovative and meaningful options to promote effective change.
Unlike conventional cookbooks filled with food recipes, the Shifting Behaviour Cookbook serves up an innovative menu of simple, effective actions that individuals, businesses, and communities can take to reduce their environmental footprint. Each ‘recipe’ is a step-by-step guide, complete with ingredients (the resources needed), preparation (how to implement the change), expected results (the positive environmental impact) and variations (some alternative ideas if you cannot try this recipe due to difficulty or lack of resources).
From reducing food waste and making energy-efficient choices to rethinking consumption habits and spreading awareness, each section of the book provides accessible, actionable guidance. The aim is to empower people with clear, achievable steps that fit into their daily lives while making a significant contribution to a sustainable future.
“Many of those around me, including my parents, recognise the urgency of climate action, but after making a few small changes, their well-intentioned efforts get stuck because they don’t know what else they can do. Sometimes they do not know exactly how to proceed or what the benefits to society would be if they make such changes, which reduces their motivation as changing habits is not an easy thing to do” said Juan Esteban Quintero, one of the contributors to the cookbook. “The ultimate goal of I-CHANGE is to show that behavioural change of single citizens is possible and that this has an impact on their environmental footprint. This is why the cookbook is a useful complement to the citizen science activities developed by the project. It links to other activities and results of the project and shows citizens that there is still a lot for them to do.”
Most of the recipes are addressed to adults; however, it is designed to be used by individuals, schools, workplaces, and community groups looking for practical ways to contribute to environmental change.
For more information or to download a copy, visit here.
About I-CHANGE
I-CHANGE – Individual Change of HAbits Needed for Green European transition – is a European Horizon 2020 project which runs for 3,5 years (Start date: 1 November 2021). The project aims to face the challenge of engaging and promoting the active participation of citizens for addressing climate change, sustainable development and environmental protection in the framework of the European Green Deal, the European Climate Pact and the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The activities of I-CHANGE are strongly rooted in real society through interaction, co-development and cooperation with eight interactive Living Labs across Europe (Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Dublin, Genoa, and Hasselt), Israel and Burkina Faso.
To learn more about I-CHANGE, visit the website: https://ichange-project.eu/
And follow the social media channels:
- X: @ICHANGE_EU
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/ichange-eu
- YouTube: youtube.com/channel
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101037193.
