Understanding normative change to address the climate emergency

One of the main obstacles stop climate change from further escalating is not technological, but the societal and political will. The goal of this research is to understand how this societal and political will can be mobilised. Specifically, this research will advance our understanding of social change and how it can be accelerated in response to the climate crisis, by

1. Understanding what normative/social change is happening now,
2. Understanding what is blocking change,
3. Understanding what can be done to amplify and accelerate the change.

Using a mixed-methods approach of big data analysis, interviews, field-experiments, survey experiments and computational models we aim at reaching these three objectives. Working with civicl society and policy makers we also aim to turn that understanding into actions and policies.

Contact:

Professor Viktoria Spaiser, Principal Investigator (PI)/ UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, v.spaiser@leeds.ac.uk, on BlueSky: @viktoriaspaiser.bsky.social and on Linked In

Dr Nicole Nisbett, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, on  Linked In. Nicole has sadly left the project to seek new career opportunities. Viktoria Spaiser is very grateful for her immense contribution to the project.

Ajaykumar Manivannan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, a.manivannan@leeds.ac.uk, on LinkedIn. Ajay has joined the project in October 2024.

Susan Ann Samuel, PhD student, ptsas@leeds.ac.uk, on Linked In.

Academic Output

• Spaiser, V., Nisbett, N. (2025). Mobilizing Climate Action with Moral Appeals: An 8-Weeks Field-Experiment with a Climate Action App. preprint on ResearchSquare: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6202641/v1
• Spaiser, V., Juhola, S., Constantino, S., Guo, W., ..., Spears, B.M. (2024). Negative social tipping dynamics resulting from and reinforcing Earth system destabilization. Earth System Dynamics, 15(5), 1179–1206. https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-15-1179-2024
• Nisbett, N., Spaiser, V., Leston Bandeira, C., Valdenegro, D. (2024): Climate action or delay: the dynamics of competing narratives in the UK political sphere and the influence of climate protest. Climate Policy, https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2024.2398169
• Spaiser, V.; Dunn, K.; Milner, P.; Moore, J. (2024): The Effects of Communicating Climate Change Threat: Mobilizing Anger and Authoritarian Affect Displacement. Environmental Sociology, 10(4), 408-419 https://doi.org/10.1080/23251042.2024.2369739
• Ann Samuel, S. (2024): The Role of Small Island Developing States as Norm Champions: A Force to be Reckoned with in Climate Politics. In: Tiky, L. & Kulnazarova, A. (eds.): Global South Agency in International Politics. Palgrave MacMillan
• Nisbett, N.; Spaiser, V. (2023): How convincing are AI-generated moral arguments for climate action? Frontiers in Climate, 5, 1193350. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2023.1193350
• Nisbett, N.; Spaiser, V. (2023): Moral power of youth activists – Transforming international climate Politics? Global Environmental Change, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2023.102717
• Spaiser, V.; Nisbett, N.; Stefan, C. (2022): How dare you? - The Normative Challenge posed by Fridays for Future. PLoS Climate, 1(10): e0000053. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000053 

Selected Blogs

• Spaiser, V. (2024): Encouraging democratic citizen engagement in climate change solutions through digital innovation, Case Study, Fair Energy Futures.
• Spaiser, V. (2024): COP28 Lessons for Fair Energy Futures, Fair Energy Futures, Medium
• Joneja, K., Spaiser, V., Talwar, L. (2023): Speculative Visions. AI for grassroots-driven visioning of climate-positive future in marginalised communities. Offcentre Collective.
• Nisbett, N. (2023): The enduring impact of youth climate activism. Priestley Centre for Climate Futures.

Selected Podcasts & Videos

• Recording of Correcting course to 1.5°C: Positive tipping points in the transition to net zero, a panel discussion with Steven R. Smith, John D. Sterman, Nadia Ameli, Aldo Ravazzi and Viktoria Spaiser, organised by OECD for COP28
• Recording of How Climate Activism Accelerate Social Change in Response to the Climate Crisis, a research webinar with Viktoria Spaiser at the Institute for Analytical Sociology, Norrköping, Sweden.
• Recording of The role of norms and civil society to trigger social tipping, Entering Social Tipping: Norms, Agency and Scales, Tipping Points Discussion Series, organised by AIMES, Future Earth, Earth Commission and WCRP
• Spaiser, V. & Nisbett N. (2022): Stabilising Earth’s Climate: Key Social Dynamics. Settee Seminars. Season Five, Episode Two. URL: http://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/whats-on/settee-seminars/settee-seminars-season-five 
• Reflections by Spaiser, V. & Nicole, N. on a trial of a Virtual Citizen Discussion on Climate Change Policies in the North using LiquidFeedback, results on the trial are reported here.

Impact

• Ajaykumar Manivannan contributed to the Alan Turing Institute Data Study Group, working with ScotRail on how rail and road data can support sustainable mobility, reduce car miles, and enhance rail network resilience.
• Contributed to the European Commission meeting Raising Awareness of Earth System Tipping Points: Implications for EU Governance in Brussels, 5/6 November 2024, see Policy Brief that resulted from this meeting.
• Contributed as chapter lead and author to multiple chapters of the Global Tipping Points Report launched at COP28, engagement and impact activities ongoing. Media response to reports amongst others in The Guardian, Tagesschau, ZDF, Bloomberg, Nature News, Carbon Brief, France24, New Scientist, The Conversation, The Times of India, etc. Read here the University of Leeds press release.
• Invited speed talk with Q&A on behaviour change in response to the climate emergency at the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee's Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) event, Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament) (30/11/2023)
• Contribution to the House of Lords, Environment and Climate Change Committee report "In our hands: behaviour change for climate and environmental goals" (2022)