Cultural Evolution of Sustainable Behaviors: Pro-environmental Tipping Points in an Agent-Based Model

Kaaronen, R.O. & Strelkovskii, N. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6862-1768 (2020). Cultural Evolution of Sustainable Behaviors: Pro-environmental Tipping Points in an Agent-Based Model. One Earth 2 (1) 85-97. 10.1016/j.oneear.2020.01.003.

[thumbnail of 1-s2.0-S2590332220300038-main.pdf]
Preview
Text
1-s2.0-S2590332220300038-main.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (2MB) | Preview
[thumbnail of ScienceDirect_files_27Jan2020_06-33-27.795.zip] Archive
ScienceDirect_files_27Jan2020_06-33-27.795.zip - Supplemental Material
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (4MB)

Abstract

To reach sustainability transitions, we must learn to leverage social systems into tipping points, where societies exhibit positive-feedback loops in the adoption of sustainable behavioral and cultural traits. However, much less is known about the most efficient ways to reach such transitions or how self-reinforcing systemic transformations might be instigated through policy. We employ an agent-based model to study the emergence of social tipping points through various feedback loops that have been previously identified to constitute an ecological approach to human behavior. Our model suggests that even a linear introduction of pro-environmental affordances (action opportunities) to a social system can have non-linear positive effects on the emergence of collective pro-environmental behavior patterns. We validate the model against data on the evolution of cycling and driving behaviors in Copenhagen. Our model gives further evidence and justification for policies that make pro-environmental behavior psychologically salient, easy, and the path of least resistance.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: cultural evolution; pro-environmental behavior; leverage point; tipping point; affordance; habit; ABM; urban design; systemic change; sustainability
Research Programs: Advanced Systems Analysis (ASA)
Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP)
Depositing User: Luke Kirwan
Date Deposited: 27 Jan 2020 06:33
Last Modified: 27 Aug 2021 17:32
URI: https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/16278

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item