On March 24, 2025, the Ecolab of the General Commission for Sustainable Development organized a day dedicated to behavioral sciences and data-driven assessments to support the ecological transition in local areas. This meeting aimed to bring together researchers, institutions, and stakeholders around tools, feedback, and concrete perspectives. In his introduction, Thomas Cottinet (Ecolab) outlined current initiatives, particularly around environmental data sharing (data altruism) and citizen participation. He highlighted the growing importance of behavioral sciences in integrating sustainability, repairability, and sobriety into public policies. Throughout the day, speakers demonstrated how data, digital technology, and AI can be used to encourage pro-environmental behavior. They emphasized the importance of co-designing programs with citizens, adapting messages to different audiences, and evaluating the impact of implemented actions. Several case studies illustrated these principles: The fight against air pollution linked to wood heating in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, through an experiment combining communication, local mobilization, and simplified support. The implementation of the repairability and sustainability index, tools designed to guide consumer choices and encourage manufacturers to design more sustainable products.The assessment of barriers and levers to promote biowaste sorting, emphasizing that infrastructure is not enough without behavioral support.
On the methodological side, the participants reiterated the importance of a rigorous and tailored assessment. , ranging from simple diagnostics to randomized controlled trials (RCTs), or even quasi-experimental approaches when RCTs are not possible. It was essential to combine pragmatism and scientific rigor to produce results useful for public action. Finally, the day emphasized the need to capitalize on existing experiences and evaluations by strengthening access to data, equipping public officials, and integrating behavioral sciences into ecological transformation approaches.
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