Decarbonising Existing Homes in Wales: A Participatory Behavioural Systems Mapping Approach

Abstract

Background: To reduce carbon emissions, urgent change is needed to high-carbon human behaviours including home energy use. Previous policy failures point to insufficient use and integration of systemic and behavioural approaches to bring about change. A novel behavioural systems mapping approach was used to inform national policy recommendations for energy-saving retrofit of homes in Wales. Method: Three participatory workshops were held with the independent Welsh residential decarbonisation advisory group (‘the Advisory Group’) to (1) map relationships between actors, behaviours and influences on behaviour within the home retrofit system, (2) provide training in the Behaviour Change Wheel framework (3) use these to develop policy recommendations for interventions. Recommendations were analysed using the COM-B (capability, opportunity, motivation) model of behaviour to assess whether they addressed these factors. Results: Two behavioural systems maps were produced, representing privately rented and owner-occupied housing tenures. The main causal pathways and feedback loops in each map are described. Necessary interventions to achieve national-scale retrofit included: government-led investment, campaigns and awareness-building, financial-sector funding mechanisms, enforcement of regulations, and creating more streamlined and trusted supply chain services. Of 27 final policy recommendations, 6 addressed capability, 22 opportunity, and 12 motivation. Conclusions: Participatory behavioural systems mapping can be used in conjunction with behaviour change frameworks to develop policy recommendations that address the behavioural determinants of complex environmental problems. Research is underway to refine and extend the approach through application to other sustainability challenges and methods of constructing systems maps.

Achieving effective climate action in cities by understanding behavioral systems

“…One multi-disciplinary method that integrates behavioral science theory and systems thinking is behavioral systems mapping. 15,16 This method maps the relationships between people, their behaviors, and the factors influencing their behaviors (Figure 1). It thus develops systems maps about a given problem in a way that makes the role of human behavior more visible and explicit.…”

“…Together with behavioral scientists, the advisory group mapped interrelated behaviors and factors influencing the behavior of actors including owner-occupiers, landlords, tenants, supply chains, financial institutions, and local and national governments. 15 This process highlighted, for example, the interconnected roles of local authorities, installers, and homeowners and pointed to the value of roles such as retrofit designers (trained professionals currently in short supply), who could help homeowners navigate the process (Figure 2). Of the policy recommendations informed by this process, over 90% were evaluated as specifying a way to increase relevant actors' capability, opportunity, and/or motivation to engage in behaviors supporting retrofitting, such as accessing finance (homeowners) or committing to carrying out the installation (installers).…”

“…Of the policy recommendations informed by this process, over 90% were evaluated as specifying a way to increase relevant actors' capability, opportunity, and/or motivation to engage in behaviors supporting retrofitting, such as accessing finance (homeowners) or committing to carrying out the installation (installers). 15 Behavioral systems mapping is a relatively new and evolving approach for informing effective action strategies. It is already being applied by academic researchers in the UK and Australia, as well as by UK government departments, to other environmental issues, such as waste disposal (e.g., https://kumu.io/ JoHale/waste-in-kisumu) and circularity in the repair of products.…”

“…The full maps produced can be viewed interactively online at https://kumu.io/JoHale/walesdecarbonisation. Full methods and results of the mapping process are reported by Hale et al 15…”

“…Black text boxes show potential new services or resources to support decarbonization. Adapted with permission from Hale et al15…”