Recycling isn't a distraction, but it won't stop climate change either

For years we’ve been told that governments and corporations promoting individual actions like recycling are conveniently distracting citizens from wanting large-scale action on climate change. Is it true?

A new study led by UNSW Sydney behavioural scientists, in collaboration with researchers from Griffith University, opens in a new window, found no evidence for claims that climate action at the individual level distracted from meaningful action on climate change.

After following almost 2800 Australians over four years through the National Climate Action Survey, opens in a new window, the researchers found people who made environmentally friendly choices – recycling, using reusable cups and containers, taking public transport, adopting greener diets and cycling to work – were not less likely to support broader climate action.

That finding contradicts a long-running criticism that governments and companies encourage small lifestyle changes to deflect attention, opens in a new window from the harder work of transforming energy systems and regulating industry.

“Individual climate actions neither facilitate nor undermine broader climate engagement,” says lead author Dr Omid Ghasemi from the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response, opens in a new window.

“We found no evidence for the idea that personal action might reduce collective action or policy support because people feel they’ve done enough, overestimate the impact of individual actions, or feel less worried about climate change,” he says.

Instead, the research suggests everyday environmental behaviours are expressions of existing values rather than catalysts – or obstacles – for broader political engagement.