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A decision science approach for integrating social science in climate and energy solutions

Abstract

The social and behavioural sciences are critical for informing climate- and energy-related policies. We describe a decision science approach to applying those sciences. It has three stages: formal analysis of decisions, characterizing how well-informed actors should view them; descriptive research, examining how people actually behave in such circumstances; and interventions, informed by formal analysis and descriptive research, designed to create attractive options and help decision-makers choose among them. Each stage requires collaboration with technical experts (for example, climate scientists, geologists, power systems engineers and regulatory analysts), as well as continuing engagement with decision-makers. We illustrate the approach with examples from our own research in three domains related to mitigating climate change or adapting to its effects: preparing for sea-level rise, adopting smart grid technologies in homes, and investing in energy efficiency for office buildings. The decision science approach can facilitate creating climate- and energy-related policies that are behaviourally informed, realistic and respectful of the people whom they seek to aid.

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Figure 1: Climate Central's Surging Seas Risk Finder for New York City.
Figure 2: Risk-of-bias assessment for 32 studies of in-home displays, dynamic pricing and home automation systems.
Figure 3: A screenshot showing simulated appliances with specific feedback.

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Acknowledgements

The research reported here and preparation of this manuscript were supported by the National Science Foundation to the Center for Climate and Energy Decision Making (SES-0949710), the Department of Energy (DE-OE0000300, DE-OE0000204), Skoll Global Threats Fund, the Carnegie Electricity Industry Center, Richard King Mellon Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation. D.S. was supported by FONDECYT 11140374, the Complex Engineering Systems Institute (ICM: P-05-004-F, CONICYT: FB016) and the Business Intelligence Research Center (CEINE) of the University of Chile. The views expressed are those of the authors.

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Correspondence to Gabrielle Wong-Parodi.

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Wong-Parodi, G., Krishnamurti, T., Davis, A. et al. A decision science approach for integrating social science in climate and energy solutions. Nature Clim Change 6, 563–569 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2917

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