ACCESS - Advancing Capacity for Climate  and Environment Social Science
ACCESS - Advancing Capacity for Climate  and Environment Social Science
Illustration of lots of coloured shoulders and heads with images where their brains would be - puzzle, graph, flowers, paint splodges etc. Credit Getty Images

Environmental Social Science


Environmental social science is the scientific study
of three interrelated dynamic components:

  • people
  • the social environment
  • the natural (non-human) environment
Infographic showing the relationship between People, Social Environment and Non-human (nature) Environment.
What, who, why and how?
An over the shoulder shot of a mature male homeowner adjusting his boiler in his kitchen. The boiler is located in a cupboard.
Case studies
A pile of books. Those at the top are open
Resources

What is environmental social science?


Environmental social science (ESS) is the (systematic) study of the interrelationship between three dynamic components:

  • People – their actions, thoughts and experiences as individuals, householders, employees, decision-makers, consumers, citizens, etc.
  • The social environment – including existing social norms, values, cultures, institutions, political systems, social processes, human-made structures (roads and buildings) and technologies.
  • The natural (non-human) environment – including natural resources (e.g., energy, water), climate, biodiversity, environmental processes and problems (e.g., air pollution, floods, droughts).
Three cogs - Social Environment, People and Non-Human (natural) Environment showing their interrelationship

Who does environmental social sciences?


Environmental social scientists can be found in a range of classic and applied social science disciplines as well as consultancy, policy and practice.

They can be trained in a range of classic social science disciplines (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics), applied disciplines (e.g., education, marketing) and interdisciplinary fields (e.g., human ecology).

In policy and practice researchers may describe themselves as social scientist, social researcher, behavioural scientist, or social data analyst, rather than a subdiscipline.

Applied, interdisciplinary working and knowledge exchange are key.

Some environmental social science disciplines

Why engage with environmental social sciences?


Environmental problems are deeply rooted in social structures, but the importance of the range of environmental social sciences is not always clearly valued or understood.

Environmental social sciences offer different types of knowledge and insights to: 

  • help solve problems
  • understand human-environment interactions
  • provide novel innovative solutions and insights

How can you engage with environmental social sciences?


Case studies


A set of case studies demonstrating where and how environmental social sciences have had significant impact on interdisciplinary research and policy and practice. 

Climate Change Committee logo

University findings support the creation of the UK Climate Change Committee

Warehouse with shelving and boxes credit Maor Attias

The Social Value Model
and UK Government
procurement

An over the shoulder shot of a mature male homeowner adjusting his boiler in his kitchen. The boiler is located in a cupboard.

Creating an intervention to reduce boiler flow temperatures in the UK

Two people walking through woodland. Together they hold up a small child between them

Preventing & Tackling Mental Ill Health through Green Social Prescribing Project

Resources


Plastic question marks on a table with two lit up

Report: Environmental social science
What is it and why do we need it?

We have developed a clear definition of what Environmental Social Science is and how it can be used to address environmental challenges.

Webinar: Why do we need environmental social science?

Recording of a webinar with Professor Birgitta Gatersleben at Surrey University on 8 February 2024.

Presentation: Explaining environmental social science slide deck.

A PowerPoint presentation to aid engagement in the Environmental Social Sciences.

Five people gathered around a table arranging coloured cards

Report: A guide to working in inter-and transdisciplinary ways.

Supporting working across disciplines and stakeholder groups based on findings from the literature.

Report: A framework of considerations for increasing impact of environmental social science in policy and practice arenas.

Based on interviews with environmental social scientists.

Webpage: A systems map of organisations where there may be opportunities for collaboration.

Environmental Social Science Knowledge Exchange Map of Opportunities (ESS NEMO).

A pile of books. Those at the top are open

Report: Working with other disciplines and stakeholders

What is the impact and value of environmental social sciences in interdisciplinary research, policy, organisations and society.

Person looking at opened laptop with hands gesturing towards the screen

A guide: List of toolkits

Useful toolkits to support environmental social scientists’ knowledge exchange activities.

Report: Toolkits for knowledge exchange

How can toolkits can support knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary working for increased impact?

Other related articles


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Placing people at the heart of climate action report

Follow the Social Science: Making a Net Zero Society report

ACCESS Guiding Principles

Environmental social science webinars


Image of Stewart Barr and details of his webinar

Image of George Warren and information about the webinar

Photo of Ruth Lamont and webinar details

Picture of Patrick Devine-Wright and information about the webinar flier

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