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Transition Towns: An Intervention Method for Encouraging Pro-Environmental Behaviour Change

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posted on 2021-11-10, 01:38 authored by Rudningen, Jessica Rae

Transition initiatives offer support for responding to potential environmental inconveniences, such as peak oil and climate change. As an alternative to the dominant approach of shocking people into helplessness and denial, transition towns seek to inform people of the issues and discover appropriate responses. To verify whether transition towns as a movement encourage pro-environmental behaviour change, three case studies (Aro Valley, Lower Hutt, and Nelson) were considered to determine motivations, barriers, and actions in transition town members. Nine face-to-face informal interviews as well as two focus groups were conducted to appreciate participant experiences. A thematic analysis of these case studies was conducted to determine the extent pro-environmental behaviour and encouragement from transition towns was having an effect. The aforementioned objectives were discussed against pertinent literature to determine whether transition towns empowered participants to change to pro-environmental behaviour. Transition towns offer practical behaviour change steps and a supportive social environment which empowers pro-environmental behaviour change and increases individual and community resilience for an uncertain future.

History

Copyright Date

2009-01-01

Date of Award

2009-01-01

Publisher

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Rights License

Author Retains Copyright

Degree Discipline

Environmental Studies

Degree Grantor

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Degree Level

Masters

Degree Name

Master of Environmental Studies

Victoria University of Wellington Item Type

Awarded Research Masters Thesis

Language

en_NZ

Victoria University of Wellington School

School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences

Advisors

Hutchings, Jessica