Dutch Research Agenda funding for research to improve climate policy

Together with researchers of the Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, professors Michele Cucuzzella and Ming Cao of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (University of Groningen) will receive EUR 340.000 for developing models to understand and predict how policies influence societal and behavioral change over time. They are partners in the research programme ‘Behavioural Insights for Climate Policy’ that is funded by the NWO with a EUR 2,9 million Dutch Research Agenda (NWA) grant. The goal of the project is to make climate policy more effective and easier to implement.

Prof. Dr. Heleen de Coninck from Eindhoven University of Technology is the coordinator of the consortium, which consists of a broad range of knowledge institutions and societal partners.

Actionable insights for Dutch government

Through targeted research, the researchers will explore how behavioural insights can be embedded throughout the policy cycle. The programme is focused on developing actionable insights for the Dutch government to design and implement effective and feasible policies, thereby contributing to accelerating the transitions.

Evidence-based strategies for fostering sustainability

Cucuzzella and Cao will work together with Linda Steg, Thijs Bouwman, Ellen van der Werff and Gabriel Muinos from the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Science on developing dynamic models to understand and predict how policies influence societal and behavioral change over time. In this, they will incorporate factors like financial incentives, regulations, and social norms. The models will enable policymakers to estimate the long-term impacts of policies and identify conditions that accelerate behavioral and societal change. This ensures evidence-based, optimized strategies for fostering sustainability.

Cucuzzella and Cao work at the Engineering and Technology institute Groningen of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

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2.9 Million awarded for research on behavioural insights for climate policy (NWO news)