Barriers and Facilitators of Pro-Environmental Behaviours: Testing Methods for Measuring and Promoting Sustainable Actions

The climate crisis poses an urgent global challenge, with anthropogenic climate change causing severe ecological and societal disruptions. While systemic changes are crucial, individual pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs) remain an essential component of sustainability efforts. This thesis examines psychological and contextual factors influencing PEBs, with a focus on climate change worry and recycling behaviour. Chapter 1 provides an overview of current research on PEBs. Chapters 2 and 3 explore the relationship between climate worry and PEBs through experimental and survey methods, assessing whether worry acts as a motivator or deterrent. Chapter 4 shifts focus to recycling, analysing both psychological and contextual barriers to participation. Chapter 5 presents a survey conducted at an Italian university, identifying key motivators and barriers to recycling in public spaces. Chapter 6 reports on a field intervention in an Italian neighborhood, testing the effectiveness of nudging strategies to improve recycling behaviors. This research contributes to environmental psychology by addressing methodological challenges in measuring PEBs and offering insights into both individual and systemic influences on sustainability efforts. Findings highlight the complex interplay between psychological drivers and contextual constraints, informing strategies to enhance ecological engagement.