DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.24178.1 ISSN: 2732-5121

Behavioural change interventions to promote climate action: An umbrella review protocol

Aswathi Surendran, Vasiliki Christodoulou, Mert Nedim Mercan, Gizem Öztürk, Yasemin Erkal Aksoy, Gordana Ristevska Dimitrovska, Dimitrios Theofanidis, Zsolt Demetrovics, Julius Burkauskas, Chiara Cadeddu, Marija Jevtic, Sílvia Luís, Nidhi Nagabhatla, Sanae Okamoto, Marie-Laure Parmentier, Antonio José Soares, Ivana Tutić Grokša, Biljana Gjoneska, Francisco Sampaio
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Background Individual, household, and community behaviours influence wider pro-environmental and climate-related outcomes, yet evidence on the outcomes and effectiveness of behaviour change interventions (BCIs) remains fragmented. This umbrella review protocol provides a systematic approach to synthesising accumulated knowledge, identifying general patterns and research gaps in a structured way. Methods This protocol outlines an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMA), following the latest standards for reporting methodological quality, critical appraisal and risk-of-bias assessment. Searches will be conducted across large academic databases in health, behavioural and environmental sciences for records in peer-reviewed journals, published until April 2026. The protocol details a strategy for searching, retrieving, screening, selecting and evaluating records that address BCIs for pro-environmental behaviours among the general population. The selected records will be screened for quality, and the findings will be analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. Data extraction will account for primary studies (covered within reviewed studies), and the synthesis will summarise intervention types, delivery modes, contextual factors, behavioural and mental health outcomes. Expected Results This protocol represents an initial, safeguarding step in the umbrella review process. By following a detailed plan and rigorous standards, the umbrella review is expected to offer reliable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers developing evidence-informed strategies for promoting climate action. Registration In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines (Shamseer et al., 2015), the following umbrella review protocol was registered via the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 22 October, 2025 (registration number: CRD420251119136).

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