Collective Efficacy in Pro-Environmental Action

Collective efficacy refers to a group’s shared conviction in its ability to organise and execute actions that yield positive environmental outcomes. Over recent decades, research has emphasised its role alongside individual confidence (self-efficacy) in driving sustainable behaviours—from household recycling schemes to large-scale climate movements. By aligning motivational beliefs with social identity and shared goals, collective efficacy fosters cooperation, sustains engagement in both private-sphere behaviours (such as energy saving and waste reduction) and public-sphere initiatives (including policy advocacy and community campaigns), and amplifies impact through coordinated action. Practical applications range from designing communication strategies that boost group confidence to structuring participatory interventions that reinforce each member’s contribution. Globally, collective efficacy underpins efforts to bridge the gap between environmental concern and sustained behaviour change, offering a pathway to scale local successes into broader societal transformations.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Collective Efficacy in Pro-Environmental Action publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in collective efficacy in pro-environmental action across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Collective efficacy: A group’s shared belief in its combined capacity to organise and execute actions that achieve environmental goals.

Self-efficacy: An individual’s confidence in their own ability to carry out specific pro-environmental behaviours.

Participatory efficacy: The conviction that one’s personal contribution strengthens the effectiveness of collective environmental endeavours.

Pro-environmental behaviour: Actions taken by individuals or groups intended to minimise environmental harm and promote sustainability.

References

1. Introducing and testing the personal-collective-governmental efficacy typology: How personal, collective, and governmental efficacy subtypes are associated with differential environmental actions. Journal of Environmental Psychology (2023).
2. Perceived impacts of the Fridays for Future climate movement on environmental concern and behaviour in Switzerland. Sustainability Science (2023).
3. Relationships Among Environmental Attitudes, Environmental Efficacy, and Pro-Environmental Behaviors Across and Within 11 Countries. Environment and Behavior (2022).