Abstract
(Citizen) Engagement for climate change and environmental sustainability: (how does it work/change) online, offline or onsite? E-CLIC In recent years, the interest in climate change and environmental sustainability has increased in public opinion, new and old media, and among scientists. Profound changes in environmental attitudes have been observed, and a significant commitment to nvironmental movements and protests, which involve mainly younger generations. On the other hand, the digitalization of human experience and online interactions have reached a paramount size in the same years. The COVID-19 pandemic has impressed a relevant acceleration to the different forms of online interaction in teaching, purchasing, leisure activities worldwide. This global phenomenon entailed problematic aspects (e.g., exacerbating digital inequalities). However, in the climate change and sustainability engagement field, the increased digitalization has underpinned new forms and possibilities of interactions and behaviors, such as online petitions, e-participation in local consulting, organizing protests through social media. Quite surprisingly, though, there is a lack of research on the potentially crucial intersections between environmental engagement and online interaction, primarily regarding two aspects: a) Individuals’ beliefs and experiences about online participation. Do people think that online forms, for example, are more/less demanding, more/less effective, more/less satisfying at the personal level when compared to the traditional forms? b) Whether and how does online interaction, compared to traditional forms, change the characteristics and relations of factors and processes connected to participation (such as social identification or perception of injustice)? E-CLIC aims to provide answers to these research questions through three related activities, structured in 3 work packages (WPs) MAIN RESULTS WP1 collected in depth qualitative data through 10 focus groups across three regional area (North, Centre, South Italy), involving adults (N=96) with different degrees of interest in environmental issues and environmental participation exploring beliefs about digital participation, perceived barriers, and opportunities for blending online and offline engagement. In line with the review by Greijdanus and colleagues (2020), our respondents showed that sometimes digital participation was preferred to offiline engament based on the perceived advantages or disadvantages, or the expected outcomes. More often, the two forms were used as alternatives . We found that people participate online and offline for the same underlying reasons—helping the environment and responding to climate urgency—yet they perceive different trade-offs in each mode. Digital participation was seen as less immediately satisfying and tangible than in-person actions, yet they recognize the efficiency and reach of online participation. Goals, trust and effectiveness seem to differ between online and in-person participation. The latter appears associated with a more visible identity as participant (shared visible values, possibility of personal growth, perception of group belongingness) and greater attribution of effectiveness, often associated with satisfying relationships and 'concrete' actions. Furthermore, in-person participation, more than online participation, seems to have the capacity to concretely represent the values of the participants and thus become “good” itself (Hornsey et al., 2006). WP2 conducted a longitudinal survey with a representative sample of the adult Italian population (N = 800 first wave; N = 400 Second wave) and of the adult Danish population (N= 800 first wave; N = 400 Second wave). The survey was designed to test a psychosocial model of environmental engagement based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, that integrated specifical beliefs about online participation that were built through the analysis of the focus group transcripts, as well as other constructs based on the analysis of the psychosocial literature. In both countries, injunctive norms and perceived behavioral control were positive correlates of intention, which is consistent with the general TPB claim that intentions are shaped by perceived social approval and perceived capability or feasibility of action. Meta-analytic work has consistently shown that TPB components predict intention, although their relative weights vary considerably across behavioral domains and samples. The most robust cross-group difference concerned perceived behavioral control, which was markedly stronger in Italy than in Denmark. The second significant cross-group difference concerned attitude, which was a significant predictor in Italy but not in Denmark. Finally, the absence of a significant cross-group difference for injunctive norms is noteworthy, suggesting that perceived social approval may represent a relatively stable driver across the two countries, even if other TPB components vary in weight. WP3 designed, implemented, and evaluated a youth environmental leadership blended program that involved 10 university students across the three participating universities. The program offered an opportunity to design and implement environmental awareness activities targeting young people and the general population. Students who participated in the program demonstrated increased levels of critical awareness about limits and opportunities to act as environmental mobilizers, acknowledging the importance of building and maintaining networks (also through online tools) to support continuous engagement. To foster students’ agency in responding to the climate crisis, educational initiatives should be attentive to what participants bring into the learning process(experiences, questions, emotions) and should be embedded within a relational and institutional ecosystem capable of supporting processes of learning and engagement over time, extending beyond the boundaries of the classroom. A final workshop was organised to share main results bringing together researchers, activists, social workers, public decision-makers and students, and provide a space for participatory and interdisciplinary discussion on the meanings, practices and emotions associated with environmental engagement, with a particular focus on the relationship between online, offline and hybrid forms of participation. 5 themes were discussed: 1. Digital activism: opportunities and limitations - An initial thematic focus centred on digital activism, examined both as a potential ‘low-cost’ form of participation and as a powerful tool for access, mobilisation and organisation. A widely shared view emerged that digital technology is not the problem in itself, but rather an ambivalent tool: * it can lower barriers to participation, broaden the dissemination of information and facilitate organisation; * however, it can also encourage forms of participation that are symbolic, superficial or a substitute for concrete action, fuelling information noise and overload. The quality of engagement therefore depends on the relationship between online and offline activities, the objectives pursued and the specific contexts. 2. Presence, the body and responsibility - A second central theme concerned the idea of ‘being present without a body’. Many contributions emphasised how physical and bodily presence is crucial for: * building social bonds and trust; * taking on responsibility; * transforming emotions into lasting commitment. Participation exclusively online can increase the distance between action and its consequences, thereby weakening the sense of responsibility. However, the online sphere is fundamental for the global dimension, inclusivity (e.g. people with disabilities or financial constraints) and the circulation of knowledge and practices. A non-dichotomous, but integrated, view of forms of participation therefore emerged. 3. Emotions, eco-anxiety and participation - Considerable attention was devoted to emotions linked to climate change, particularly eco-anxiety. Eco-anxiety was interpreted not only as a risk of paralysis, but also as a signal and a potential resource: * when isolated and unconnected, it tends to block action; * when shared and embedded in collective contexts, it can be transformed into a sense of responsibility, belonging and hope. Participation – especially embodied and relational participation – emerges as a mechanism for emotional transformation, capable of reducing feelings of powerlessness and strengthening agency. 4. Motivations for participation - The workshop highlighted various motivations for environmental engagement: self-directed, relational and collective. The architectures of participation (online, onsite, hybrid) draw on these motivations in different ways and influence the intensity, duration and quality of engagement. The importance of the following emerged: * clear and concrete objectives; * small, iterative milestones; * integration between direct experience and digital sharing. 5. Complexity, contradictions and integration - In conclusion, the discussion highlighted numerous contradictions (online/offline, effectiveness/noise, inclusion/exclusion, hope/anxiety), interpreted not as problems to be eliminated, but as signs of the complexity of contemporary participatory processes. There was strong consensus on the need to: * avoid dichotomous or prescriptive approaches; * adopt a situated, contextual and multi-level approach; * value relationships as a cross-cutting element that connects emotions, tools and practices. The workshop showed that environmental engagement is a relational, emotional and situated process that requires conscious integration of digital tools and in-person practices. The workshop confirmed the value of participatory contexts as spaces that generate meaning and collective action.
Project details
Unibo Team Leader: Cinzia Albanesi
Unibo involved Department/s:
Dipartimento di Psicologia "Renzo Canestrari"
Coordinator:
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - Università di Bologna(Italy)
Total Eu Contribution: Euro (EUR) 193.936,00
Total Unibo Contribution: Euro (EUR) 66.549,00
Project Duration in months: 24
Start Date:
15/10/2023
End Date:
28/02/2026
