Act with Nature (AWN): Promoting well-being and pro-environmental behaviour among working-age adults during the era of environmental crises

Environmental crises such as climate change are among humanity's greatest contemporary challenges. Evidence-based interventions are urgently required that will both support wellbeing of working-age adults during such crises and facilitate required pro-environmental behaviour change. Previous research indicates that information campaigns or behaviour analytic approaches (reward/punishment) are not sufficient. Rather, a therapeutic and social support approach for coping with emotions is needed.

The aim of this research consortium is to through a large, longitudinal survey study deepen understanding regarding the development of and relationship between coping with environment-related emotions, nature connectedness and pro-environmental behaviour.

Based on this, we aim to develop - in collaboration with multidisciplinary scientists - and test a nature-based group intervention programme (Act with Nature; AWN) that improves coping and self-regulation in response to environment-related emotions, strengthens nature-connectedness and human wellbeing and encourages pro-environmental behaviour.

We also aim to evaluate the wider applicability of the AWN programme cross-culturally, by comparing findings between samples in Finland and the United Kingdom.

Our framework of effective environmental behavior change builds on a novel, nature-based approach to facilitate emotional coping, nature-connectedness, social support and efficient pro-environmental behaviors. Ultimately, we aim to create long-term impacts including improved well-being of human and non-human nature.

The research is conducted in collaboration with Tampere University and University of Surrey (UK).