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Barriers to Pro-Environmental Behavior Change: A Review of Qualitative Research

Author

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  • Albina Dioba

    (Department of Management, Society and Communication, Copenhagen Business School, Dalgas Have 15, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark)

  • Valentina Kroker

    (Behavioral Economics and Engineering Group, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 69, 3000 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Siegfried Dewitte

    (Behavioral Economics and Engineering Group, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 69, 3000 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Florian Lange

    (Behavioral Economics and Engineering Group, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 69, 3000 Leuven, Belgium)

Abstract

In recent decades, reports of deforestation, mass extinctions, biodiversity loss, and emergencies like floods and droughts have clearly highlighted the impact of human activities on climate change. This underscores the need for significant lifestyle changes to mitigate this impact. Pro-environmental behavior (PEB) change involves adopting actions that protect the environment and reducing environmentally harmful activities to promote sustainability. While qualitative research may provide unique insights into PEB barriers that are challenging to capture through quantitative methods, reports of qualitative studies are scattered across different literatures with little integration. With the present review, we bring together qualitative studies on PEB barriers and examine whether those studies reveal barriers compatible with existing barrier frameworks from environmental psychology. We identified 38 qualitative studies on barriers to PEB change. Our analysis revealed that most of the barriers to individual pro-environmental action identified in qualitative studies align with environmental psychology frameworks. These barriers were experienced not only by individuals in their role as consumer or citizen, but also by community-level actors (e.g., seeking to implement pro-environmental policies) and industrial decision-makers (e.g., aiming to reduce the ecological footprint of their business activities). Our findings underscore the multifaceted nature of barriers to PEB change and emphasize the importance of addressing structural and institutional factors alongside individual-level interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Albina Dioba & Valentina Kroker & Siegfried Dewitte & Florian Lange, 2024. "Barriers to Pro-Environmental Behavior Change: A Review of Qualitative Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:20:p:8776-:d:1496230
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin Felix Gajdusek & Gábor Szüdi, 2025. "Fostering Transformative Change in Vulnerable Settings: How Knowledge Processes Unfold Across Pro-Environmental Initiatives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Áine de Róiste & Aoife Stack & Ganga Chinna Rao Devarapu & Liam O’Faolain & Mary Galvin, 2025. "Irish Perspectives on School Ambient Air Quality: A Design-Led Exploration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-24, May.
    3. Olena Pavlova & Oksana Liashenko & Olena Mykhailovska & Kostiantyn Pavlov & Krzysztof Posłuszny & Antoni Korcyl, 2025. "Roles, Risks and Responsibility: Foundations of Pro-Environmental Culture in Everyday Choices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-23, October.

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