Investigating the Influence of Sustainability Workshops on Behavior: An Experimental Study

Abstract

With the increasing intensity of climate change, there is a growing need to identify effective interventions to promote pro-environmental behavior (PEB). An experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of a multi-component intervention consisting of environmental education, a carbon footprint analysis, an action planning activity, and social interaction combined into a live-virtual workshop format on fostering PEB among individuals already engaged in the climate space. The final analytic sample was composed of 146 participants, divided into a waitlist control group and a treatment group. Data were collected through baseline and follow up surveys and supplemented by optional virtual interviews. The results revealed that the treatment group incorporated twice as many new sustainable actions than the control group post-intervention across the six behavioral categories (M = 1.38 vs. M = 0.75, p = .006). The treatment group noted that the carbon calculator was the most impactful aspect of the intervention (31.5%, n = 23). Although the intervention increased PEB, it did not influence overall environmental knowledge. Both groups exhibited similar intrinsic motivations, environmental concern and social responsibility, as well as extrinsic barriers, financial and time constraints. Of those in the treatment group, 46.5% (n = 20) shared intervention learnings with their communities suggesting that the intervention may have a more wide ranging impact beyond the direct participants. Overall, the research findings support the concept that a workshop can promote PEB in individuals with preexisting high levels of sustainability knowledge and engagement.