BEHAVE 2023 is the 7th edition of the biannual EnR event focusing on the application of behavioural insights in energy efficiency and climate mitigation. As an important conference for national energy agencies in Europe, BEHAVE provides a unique forum for policymakers, academia, industry and practitioners to share ideas and experiences in promoting effective solutions for reducing CO₂ emissions and climate mitigation.

BEHAVE 2023 strives to make a real difference and contribute to the transition to a carbon neutral future. We look forward to welcoming you to this inspiring event to be held in where the European Treaty became a reality – Maastricht!

Pre-registration
is now closed

Keynote Speakers

Emma Mooney
Emma Mooney
Energy Analyst in the Energy Efficiency Division (EEfD)
International Energy Agency (IEA)
João Pedro Gouveia
João Pedro Gouveia
Head of the FireFly Energy Lab and Senior Researcher and Integrated Member
Centre for Environmental and Sustainability Research (CENSE), NOVA university of Lisbon, Portugal
Kristina Haverkamp
Kristina Haverkamp
Managing Director
German Energy Agency (dena)
Linda Steg
Linda Steg
Professor Environmental psychology & Co-author IPCC report
University Groningen, The Netherlands

Programme

Good news! The Final Programme for our upcoming conference is now available. We are extremely proud to have received so many great contributions from many different countries! BEHAVE2023 is tailored to inspire and inform, bringing together diverse minds from across Europe and beyond. From the depths of scientific research to the strategies of policy-making, this conference is designed for everyone who has a passion for behaviour change. 

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

11:15 AM - 5:30 PM CET

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

09:30 AM - 6:30 PM CET

The conference will be conducted in the English language.

For whom?

Please note that we aim to bring together a diverse set of people to help scale up solutions. We anticipate attendees from:

  • a broad range of energy and behaviour- related scientific disciplines;
  • companies large and small,
  • policy-making sectors;
  • Non-governmental organisations;
  • Various  professional backgrounds.

Given our objective to host an inclusive yet diverse gathering, and considering the overwhelming interest, we are using a pre-registration system. This ensures a balanced representation of attendees, allowing participation from all European nations and countries beyond.

Pre-registration process

  1. Pre-register: Click on the button below to complete the pre-registration form.
  2. Details: Please specify your professional background and organisation on the form. This will help us to effectively establish an audience that represents various sectors and countries.
  3. Updates: You can expect to hear within 10 days , whether your registration application has been successful or not.

It is important to note that this pre-registration is not a final registration. Due to the anticipated high demand and limited space, not all pre-registrations will result in a spot. However, within 10 days of your submission, you will be informed about your status. Further details on our selection criteria will be provided in the confirmation e-mail post on your pre-registration.

Why should you attend?

Get updated on the latest research developments in behaviour change in relation to energy and climate change and in particular in relation to the energy and climate crises.

Connect with stakeholders from different disciplines

Discover new insights of behaviour change research which can help speed up achieving the climate goals (for example embeddedness of individual behaviour in the larger system, the role of women in the energy transition, to name but a few). The time has come to help make a real impact.

  • the social scientists, researchers (academia) in behaviour change and practitioners within governments, business and other relevant organisations
  • the younger and older generations who are working in research and applications of behaviour change 
  • scientists within different disciplines/ faculties

Great network opportunity. Meet up with stakeholders from all over Europe and beyond.

Participation is free of charge. 

Objectives

  • To share the latest research insights and application developments that are aimed at addressing the energy and climate crises through behaviour change;
     
  • To promote and put into practice the knowledge and research from the scientific community;
     
  • To showcase new insights into behaviour change research that can help speed up achieving the climate goals; 
     
  • To promote multi- and transdisciplinary approaches by enhancing cooperation between researchers in behaviour change and practitioners within governments, business, and other relevant organisations;
     
  • To expand the network of scholars, professionals and policymakers that work on behaviour change for sustainability;
     
  • To encourage and empower researchers to conduct research in practically relevant settings;
     
  • To develop a research agenda with academics, practitioners and policymakers, not only on a European and national level, but also on a local and regional level.


Combining multiple perspectives on an issue often results in more realistic and impactful solutions. The conference thus aims to support and empower inter- and transdisciplinary collaborations as to promote the application of research insights into practice. We strive to enhance cooperation between:

  • social scientists in behaviour change and employees (among others behaviour change advisors) within governments, business and other relevant organisations;
  • all generations who are working in research and applications of behaviour, in particular the often under-represented younger and older generations
  • scientists within different disciplines. 
     

Thematic Topics

     a. Energy communities;
     b. Public participation in policy and decision-making;
     c. Public participation in the development and implementation of energy solutions;
     d. Citizen science;
     e. Peer-to-peer trading.

     a. Energy efficiency; 
     b. Flexibility and demand-response;
     c. Energy curtailment;
     d. Low carbon technology;
     e. Energy policy (e.g., carbon tax, subsidies);
     f. Sufficiency.

     a. Removing or reducing barriers to behavioural change;
     b. Collective action;
     c. Creating new sustainable habits and practices;
     d. Education and intermediaries;
     e. Policies;
     f. Water efficiency.

     a. The role of women and of the younger generation in the energy transition;
     b. Behaviour insights and interventions to mitigate energy poverty;
     c. Behavioural change in rental housing.

     a. Set default in thermostats, role of algorithms.

Background and Motivation

Behave provides a unique forum for policymakers, academia, industry and practitioners to share ideas and experiences on energy behaviour change in the scope of the energy transition to promote effective solutions for reducing CO₂ emissions and mitigating climate change. 

Behavioural and life-style changes are essential to mitigate and adapt to climate change and to achieve a successful energy transition. To achieve the necessary changes, insights into energy and behaviours, and the factors that drive and influence energy behaviours are urgently needed, as well as knowledge on how to implement such insights into interventions and policy.  It is important that Governments, industry, business, academics and citizens all gain know-how to engage in energy behaviour change. In addition given the scope and impacts of climate change and the energy transition, multi- and transdisciplinary collaborations are needed to acquire more holistic and feasible solutions.  

Behave 2023 will focus on scaling-up behaviour change in the light of the energy and climate crises.

It is through this conference that the EnR network strives to scale-up behaviour change, to speed up the pace and to make an impact. Let us learn from the energy and climate crisis, the pandemic, the tragic war in Ukraine and join forces all around the world to learn from successful approaches in changing our behaviour. We hope that this conference will inspire and help us to make a real difference in an attempt to sustain the energy transition and reduce CO₂ emissions. Urgent and drastic action is needed.

Location

The BEHAVE Conference 2023 will be held at MECC Maastricht.