We are all swimming against the stream. Together!
CERNA Assessment
We all know, that to mitigate the climate crisis, we need to do things differently.
We know, that climate action is hindered by most of us thinking, that nobody else cares. We know that you are left believing that your one drop in the ocean makes no difference. We also know, that this is wrong!
We have investigated awareness, attitudes and norms related to the climate and energy crisis in 6 European cities. Based on this we can tell you that most people, regardless of political affiliations, are concerned about the climate crisis and support green policies.
We would like to share these findings with you and maybe even inspire and enable you to transition towards more sustainable behaviours.
Scroll down or click below to learn more...
If you are curious about the situation in other countries, you will be able to check out the results from PROBONO's Living Labs by choosing a country SOON!
What is pluralistic ignorance and what does it do to us?
Pluralistic ignorance is like the naked emperor: we think no one cares about taking action, so we don't either - but actually, most people do care and are ready to act.
Pluralistic ignorance happens when people go along with something they don't agree with because they think everyone else supports it. In H.C. Andersen's tale, The Emperor's New Clothes, everyone pretends to see the Emperor's clothes because they think others can see them. In truth, the emperor is naked, no one sees anything, but they stay quiet to avoid looking foolish. This creates a false social reality, when everybody believes they are alone with their beliefs. But once they realise everybody thinks the same thing, nothing stops them from speaking up anymore!
The problem is that it’s easy to feel like our personal actions don’t matter—like they’re just a drop in the ocean—when we believe we’re acting alone in addressing the climate crisis. But when we realise that many others are taking action too, it becomes clear that our individual efforts are part of a collective movement. Together, we can amplify our impact and see that our actions truly do matter.
So, do people care about climate change? Our research shows that they do and far more than we think. The graph below shows how concerned people are about the climate crisis in different countries, challenging the misconception we have that no one else cares.
But...what can I do?
You can do a lot, we all can. And our research shows that we would all like to. But it's tough to know which actions make the biggest impact on climate change. Don't worry- we've done the math for you and cleared up some common misunderstandings!
It's important to know that all climate actions are good actions...
The graphs below compare what respondents in each country think are the most effective actions with the ones that, according to our calculations, actually have the highest impact.
By understanding these differences, we can make more informed choices and focus on the actions that help reduce our climate footprint and improve energy efficiency the most.
Willpower and motivation alone won't help you, habits will!
Motivation and planning help with one-time decisions, like buying a bike or a heat pump. But when it comes to changing daily habits, like actually riding that bike, eating more veggies, or spending less money, willpower alone isn’t enough.
We often try to adopt new habits but struggle to stick with them. That’s because forming habits takes more than just willpower and determination—it requires a different approach.
Our daily routines are shaped by habits, from how we use energy to what we eat and how we travel. Understanding how habits work can help us make changes that last.
Behavioural change and habit formation is without doubt a complex topic. What you find in this little teaser about habit formation is just the peak. The information here builds on Prof. Wendy Wood's book, Good Habits, Bad Habits, in which she explains the science and research behind habits in a fun and easy accessible manner. If you want to learn more about the psychological and neurological processes related to habit formation, we highly recommend to start with this book!