Behaviour Change
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Provided by: Climate Junction|Published on: June 18, 2026
Articles/WebsitesScientist Reviewed
9101112AP
Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This article explains large-scale behavior change as a strategy for addressing the climate crisis, distinguishing between direct mitigation behaviors, indirect mitigation behaviors, and adaptation behaviors.
- Students explore how emissions and the capacity to act are distributed unequally, and why collective and organized action is central to lasting change.
Subjects: Civics
Authors: Paula Richter, Frida Hylander, Kata Nylén, and Kali Andersson
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Prerequisites:
- Define the difference between climate mitigation and adaptation in class before engaging with this article.
Classroom Implementation:
- Prior to reading this article, facilitate a class discussion about whether individual or collective action should be prioritized in climate policy.
- Have students place a range of climate actions in the impact arrow, then defend their reasoning in small groups.
- Consider adjusting the article's reading level for your students, as it is written at a college-level.
Options for Action:
- Help students engage in climate action by using a planner like this one to identify steps towards colective behavior change.
Misconceptions:
- This article pushes back on the myth that climate adaptation and mitigation cannot coexist.
- It also emphasizes that individual action is useful and needed to inspire large-scale behavior change.
This resource examines behavior change as a means to affect meaningful climate action. Numerous sources are linked in the text, often sourced from trusted scientific institutions or peer-reviewed journals. Mitigation and adaptation are presented as hand-in-hand strategies to solve the climate crisis, countering the myth that an either/or approach is feasible. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Climate Junction
Climate Junction is a unique collection of information and thinking about climate change and mental health and a vision for change. It weaves together three storytelling and educational initiatives – a youth-led podcast, an e-book, and an encyclopedia – to share knowledge and connect initiatives for the purpose of inspiring and informing action.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
