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Collective action impacts on climate change mitigation

Nicole M. Ardoin, Alison W. Bowers

2025Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences14 citationsDOIOpen Access PDF

Abstract

To address climate change, we need immediate and sustained collective action at multiple scales. In this short, narrative review, we examine recent research on collective action to mitigate climate change (referred to as collective climate action). We explore the conceptualization of climate change as a collective action problem and review documented interventions and outcomes. Although researchers have made progress in understanding what drives collective climate action, gaps remain in evaluating practical interventions and measuring long-term impacts. Opportunities exist for future interdisciplinary research to bridge individual and collective approaches, improve outcome measurement, and design interventions that can more effectively promote collective action to address climate change. • Climate change is a collective action problem. • Collective action is required for climate change mitigation. • Interdisciplinary approaches improve understanding of collective climate action. • Gaps remain in measuring the impacts of collective climate action.

Topics & Concepts

Action (physics)Climate changeCollective actionClimate change mitigationEnvironmental scienceEnvironmental planningNatural resource economicsPolitical scienceGeologyEconomicsOceanographyPhysicsLawPoliticsQuantum mechanicsSustainability and Climate Change GovernanceEnvironmental Education and SustainabilityClimate Change Communication and Perception
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