Social Practices, Intervention and Sustainability : Beyond behaviour change

This book extends and enriches the possibilities for social practice theories to inform sustainability programs and policies seeking to achieve social change. More specially, it documents how social practice theories could be used to inform relevant methods and strategies for intervention. In doing so it differs from existing work because it directly tackles a key criticism directed at social practice theorists that to date has remained largely unchallenged.

In an era of dramatic environmental change, social change is desperately needed to curb burgeoning consumption. Many calls to action have focused on individual behaviour　or technological innovation, with relative silence from the social sciences on other modes and methods of intervening in social life. This book shows　how we can go　beyond behaviour change in the pursuit of sustainability.

Inspired by the ‘practice turn’ in consumption studies, this interdisciplinary book looks through the lens of social practice theory to explore important and timely questions about how to intervene in social life. It discusses a range of applied sustainability topics including energy consumption, housing　provision, water demand, transport, climate change, curbside recycling and smart grids, seeking to redefine what intervention is, how it happens, and who or what can intervene to address the growing list of environmental calamities facing contemporary societies. These issues are explored through a range of specific case studies from Australia, the UK and the US, providing theoretical insights that are of international relevance.

The book will be of interest to researchers and students in the fields of sociology, consumption studies, environmental studies, geography, and science and technology studies, as well as policy makers and practitioners seeking to intervene in social life for sustainability.