Dedicated to our desire to look for newer and newer ways to “greenify” our daily practices, in the first months of 2024 we joined NUDGES: a research project funded by the INTERREG Euro-MED program, which aims to show how Mediterranean countries can use behavioral strategies (“nudges”) to improve urban climate policies. The full name of the project is: “Euro-MED0200836 / NUDGES – NOVEL SUPPORT TOOLS TO MEDITERRANEAN GOVERNMENTS EXPLOITING BEHAVIOURAL INCENTIVES”, financed under the INTERREG VI-B Program “Euro-Mediterranean Basin” 2021-2027.
8 partner organizations from 8 Mediterranean countries will jointly develop 6 proofs of concept that compare the effectiveness of promotion interventions against cultural activations based on emotional responses and sensory experiences covering sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. The sixth proof of concept will have a cross-sectoral approach focused on engaging new generations. An innovative community of interest across the Mediterranean region will be formed to facilitate further research.
The project aims to address 3 key challenges:
1) bridging the gap between climate attitudes and behavior in the population of the Mediterranean region;
2) familiarizing politicians from the Mediterranean region with the potential effectiveness of climate nudges as tools for change and
3) offering evidence of the cultural and behavioral factors that influence the effectiveness of nudge strategies.
The NUDGES project team is led by ANETEL (Larnaca, Cyprus) and the Famagusta Regional Development Agency. Our other partners are:
MUSOL Foundation from Valencia, Spain. They will promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce environmental pollution through activities with children and adults. The aim is to reduce the use of cars, increase walking and cycling.
eZAVOD from Ptuj, Slovenia. The intervention will include smell walks, aromatic dining experiences, culinary workshops and online surveys with people aged 10-40. The goal is to promote the consumption of local foods and reduce food waste.
G. D’Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara of Chieti, Italy. They will create a Garden of Talents – a multifaceted educational and social project for teenagers with the aim of promoting positive emotions and well-being through various social activities and educational programs.
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. They will create an “Awareness and Resilience” Program and an “appetite framework” for individuals above 18 to promote sustainable and healthy living practices.
PREDA – Prijedor City Development Agency, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their intervention will be educational and awareness programs for children and their parents regarding pro-environmental behavior. The aim is to promote waste reduction, recycling and energy conservation.
Mreja Znanja from Zagreb, Croatia will lead the process of communication and dissemination of information related to the project.
The Museum of Humor and Satire – Gabrovo is the 8th partner in the project, chosen to focus on the sense vision through a creative concept called “The Power of Visuals”, which will be launched in early 2025. Associate partner of the museum in the implementation of the concept is RAM “Central Stara Planina”.
Expect more details in our next post on the topic!