Professor Wouter Poortinga
MSc, PhD
- Media commentator
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Wouter Poortinga
Professor, Welsh School of Architecture
Overview
I am an environmental psychologist, based in the Welsh School of Architecture and the School of Psychology.
My research interests are in human-environment interactions, including:
- environmental risk perception
- sustainable behaviours and lifestyles
- housing, neighbourhoods and health.
Publication
2026
- Malet Lambert, I. et al. 2026. Exploring public discourse about new cycle lanes and low-traffic neighbourhoods using Twitter/X data. Travel Behaviour and Society 42 101128. (10.1016/j.tbs.2025.101128)
- Malet Lambert, I. et al. 2026. Preferences for urban street space reallocation to encourage cycling: A Best-Worst Scaling profile case approach. Travel Behaviour and Society 43 101205. (10.1016/j.tbs.2025.101205)
2025
- Junker, M. et al. 2025. Pathways to nature connection? A photo-elicitation exploration on how children engage with a nature connection programme.. Environmental Education Research
- Latter, B. et al. 2025. Experiences of car free living: Findings of a trial across four cities in England. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives 31 101484. (10.1016/j.trip.2025.101484)
- Matsunaga, L. H. et al., 2025. The self-serving veil of justice: egocentric bias fosters zero-sum thinking despite fair settings. Social Justice Research (10.1007/s11211-025-00459-z)
- Phillips, R. et al., 2025. Are you afraid of COVID-19? Motivation and engagement in infection–prevention behaviour in a UK community cohort during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. British Journal of Health Psychology 30 (4) e70034. (10.1111/bjhp.70034)
- Poortinga, W. 2025. The role of policy appraisals and second-order beliefs in public support for climate policies in the UK. Climate Policy (10.1080/14693062.2025.2539977)
- Roberts, A. , Poortinga, W. and Williams, M. O. 2025. Climate anxiety in the United Kingdom: Associations with environmentally relevant behavioural intentions, and the moderating role of efficacy. Journal of Environmental Psychology 105 102595. (10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102595)
- Tirotto, F. A. et al. 2025. Psychological and contextual drivers of indoor air quality behaviours in a deprived urban community: Evidence from participatory research. Building and Environment
- Varaden, D. et al., 2025. West London Healthy Home and Environment (WellHome) Study: Protocol for a community-based study investigating exposures across the indoor-outdoor air pollution continuum in urban communities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22 (2) 249. (10.3390/ijerph22020249)
- Verfuerth, C. et al. 2025. Strengthening climate policy through social science: Co-developing behavioural indicators for climate action with the Welsh Government. Other. Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations. Available at: https://cast.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/the-centre-for-climate-change-and-social-transformations-cast-briefing-38-strengthening-climate-policy-through-social-science-co-developing-behavioural-indicators-for-climate-action-with-the-welsh-gov.pdf.
- Whitmarsh, L. et al., 2025. “Moments of change” and low-carbon behaviors: A multidisciplinary, systematic review. WIREs Climate Change 16 (4) e70014. (10.1002/wcc.70014)
2024
- Chard, E. et al. 2024. Gender and cross-country differences in the determinants of sustainable diet intentions: A multigroup analysis of the UK, China, Sweden, and Brazil. Frontiers in Psychology 15 (10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1355969)
- Pohjolainen, P. et al., 2024. The role of national affluence, carbon emissions, and democracy in Europeans' climate perceptions. Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research 37 (2), pp.515-533. (10.1080/13511610.2021.1909465)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2024. Associations of reported access to public green space, physical activity and subjective wellbeing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Environmental Psychology 97 102376. (10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102376)
- Williams, M. O. et al. 2024. ‘There’s no helpline’: how mental health services can support young people with climate distress. Cogent Mental Health 3 (1) 2409815. (10.1080/28324765.2024.2409815)
- Wolstenholme, E. et al. 2024. Food and sustainability: meat consumption and vegetarianism in Brazil and the United Kingdom. Sustainability in Debate 15 (3), pp.131–146. (10.18472/SustDeb.v15n3.2024.55739)
- Wolstenholme, E. et al. 2024. Public perceptions of climate change and policy action in the UK, China, Sweden and Brazil from 2020-2023. Documentation. CAST. Available at: https://cast.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CAST-the-centre-for-climate-change-and-social-transformations-cast-briefing-26-public-perceptions-of-climate-change-and-policy-action-in-the-uk-china-sweden-and-brazil-from-2020-to-2023.pdf.
2023
- Böhm, G. et al., 2023. Emotional reactions to climate change: a comparison across France, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Frontiers in Psychology 14 1139133. (10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1139133)
- Poortinga, W. , Demski, C. and Steentjes, K. 2023. Generational differences in climate-related beliefs, risk perceptions and emotions in the UK. Communications Earth & Environment 4 229. (10.1038/s43247-023-00870-x)
- Poortinga, W. and Drews, S. 2023. Charging for change: the effectiveness of economic instruments to change environmentally-relevant behaviours. In: Gatersleben, B. and Murtagh, N. eds. Handbook on Pro-Environmental Behaviour Change. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. , pp.289-307.
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2023. Factors and framing effects in support for net zero policies in the UK. Frontiers in Psychology 14 (10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1287188)
- Swaffield, J. , Whitmarsh, L. and Poortinga, W. 2023. Interrupting the flow of water: Behavioural interventions and moments of change. Institute of Water Journal 8 , pp.4-5.
- Verfuerth, C. et al. 2023. A people-centred approach is needed to meet net zero goals. Journal of the British Academy 11 (S4), pp.97-124. (10.5871/jba/011s4.097)
2022
- Capstick, S. et al. 2022. The connection between subjective wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour: Individual and cross-national characteristics in a seven-country study. Environmental Science and Policy 133 , pp.63-73. (10.1016/j.envsci.2022.02.025)
- Fisher, S. D. et al., 2022. The politicisation of climate change attitudes in Europe. Electoral Studies 79 102499. (10.1016/j.electstud.2022.102499)
- Poortinga, W. , Latter, B. and Wang, S. 2022. Comparing coronavirus (COVID-19) and climate change perceptions: Implications for support for individual and collective-level policies. Frontiers in Psychology 13 996546. (10.3389/fpsyg.2022.996546)
- Whittle, C. et al. 2022. Life events and their association with changes in the frequency of transport use in a large UK sample. Travel Behaviour and Society 28 , pp.273-287. (10.1016/j.tbs.2022.04.007)
2021
- Gregersen, T. et al., 2021. Outcome expectancies moderate the association between worry about climate change and personal energy-saving behaviors. PLoS ONE 16 (5) e0252105. (10.1371/journal.pone.0252105)
- Guati-Rojo, A. et al., 2021. Public attitudes and concerns about ammonia as an energy vector. Energies 14 (21) 7296. (10.3390/en14217296)
- Phillips, R. et al., 2021. Cohort profile: The UK COVID-19 Public Experiences (COPE) prospective longitudinal mixed-methods study of health and well-being during the SARSCoV2 coronavirus pandemic. PLoS ONE 16 (10) e0258484. (10.1371/journal.pone.0258484)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2021. The role of perceived public and private green space in subjective health and wellbeing during and after the first peak of the COVID-19 outbreak. Landscape and Urban Planning 211 104092. (10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104092)
- Sonnberger, M. et al., 2021. Climate concerned but anti-nuclear: exploring (dis)approval of nuclear energy in four European countries. Energy Research and Social Science 75 102008. (10.1016/j.erss.2021.102008)
- Whitmarsh, L. , Poortinga, W. and Capstick, S. 2021. Behaviour change to address climate change. Current Opinion in Psychology 42 , pp.76-81. (10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.04.002)
- Wolstenholme, E. et al. 2021. Explaining intention to reduce red and processed meat in the UK and Italy using the theory of planned behaviour, meat-eater identity, and the Transtheoretical model. Appetite 166 105467. (10.1016/j.appet.2021.105467)
2020
- Bouman, T. et al., 2020. When worry about climate change leads to climate action: how values, worry and personal responsibility relate to various climate actions. Global Environmental Change 62 102061. (10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102061)
- Gregersen, T. et al., 2020. Political orientation moderates the relationship between climate change beliefs and worry about climate change. Frontiers in Psychology 11 1573. (10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01573)
- Milfont, T. L. , Poortinga, W. and Sibley, C. G. 2020. Does having children increase environmental concern? Testing parenthood effects with longitudinal data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study. PLoS ONE 15 (3)(10.1371/journal.pone.0230361)
- Mouratidis, K. and Poortinga, W. 2020. Built environment, urban vitality and social cohesion: Do vibrant neighborhoods foster strong communities?. Landscape and Urban Planning 204 103951. (10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103951)
- Verschoor, M. et al., 2020. Exploring relationships between climate change beliefs and energy preferences: a network analysis of the European Social Survey. Journal of Environmental Psychology 70 101435. (10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101435)
- Wahl-Jorgensen, K. et al. 2020. Advice for journalists covering Covid-19: Welsh NHS confederation. Documentation. Cardiff: School of Journalism, Media and Culture, Cardiff University.
- Wolstenholme, E. , Poortinga, W. and Whitmarsh, L. 2020. Two birds, one stone: the effectiveness of health and environmental messages to reduce meat consumption and encourage pro-environmental behavioural spillover. Frontiers in Psychology 11 577111. (10.3389/fpsyg.2020.577111)
2019
- Bertoldo, R. et al., 2019. Scientific truth or debate: On the link between perceived scientific consensus and belief in anthropogenic climate change. Public Understanding of Science 28 (7), pp.778-796. (10.1177/0963662519865448)
- Capstick, S. et al. 2019. CAST Briefing Paper 02: Public opinion in a time of climate emergency. Working paper. Cardiff: Cardiff University. Available at: https://cast.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/CAST-Briefing-02-Public-opinion-in-a-time-of-climate-emergency-1.pdf.
- Poortinga, W. 2019. Health and social outcomes of housing policies to alleviate fuel poverty. In: Fabbri, K. ed. Urban Fuel Poverty. Academic Press. , pp.239-258. (10.1016/B978-0-12-816952-0.00010-7)
- Poortinga, W. , Nash, N. and Hoeijmakers, L. 2019. Rapid review of charging for disposable coffee cups and other waste minimisation measure.
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2019. Climate change perceptions and their individual-level determinants: A cross-European analysis. Global Environmental Change 55 , pp.25-35. (10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.01.007)
- Thomas, G. O. et al. 2019. The English plastic bag charge changed behaviour and increased support for other charges to reduce plastic waste. Frontiers in Psychology 10 266. (10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00266)
- Umit, R. et al., 2019. The role of income in energy efficiency and curtailment behaviours: Findings from 22 European countries. Energy Research and Social Science 53 , pp.206-214. (10.1016/j.erss.2019.02.025)
2018
- Demski, C. et al. 2018. National context is a key determinant of energy security concerns across Europe. Nature Energy 3 , pp.882-888. (10.1038/s41560-018-0235-8)
- Fisher, S. , Fitzgerald, R. and Poortinga, W. 2018. Climate change: social divisions in beliefs and behaviour. In: Curtice, J. et al., British Social Attitudes: The 35th Report. London: The National Centre for Social Research. , pp.1-26.
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2018. The health impacts of energy performance investments in low-income areas: a mixed-methods approach. Public Health Research 6 (5), pp.1-182. (10.3310/phr06050)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2018. European attitudes to climate change and energy. Topline results from Round 8 of the European Social Survey.
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2018. Impacts of energy-efficiency investments on internal conditions in low-income households. Building Research and Information 46 (6), pp.653-667. (10.1080/09613218.2017.1314641)
- Poortinga, W. and Whitaker, L. 2018. Promoting the use of reusable coffee cups through environmental messaging, the provision of alternatives and financial incentives. Sustainability 10 (3) 873. (10.3390/su10030873)
- Rodgers, S. E. et al., 2018. Emergency hospital admissions associated with a non-randomised housing intervention meeting national housing quality standards: a longitudinal data linkage study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 72 (10), pp.896-903. (10.1136/jech-2017-210370)
- Rodgers, S. E. et al., 2018. Health impact, and economic value, of meeting housing quality standards: a retrospective longitudinal data linkage study. Public Health Research 6 (8), pp.1-104. (10.3310/phr06080)
- Thomas, G. O. et al. 2018. The impact of parenthood on environmental attitudes and behaviour: a longitudinal investigation of the legacy hypothesis. Population and Environment 39 (3), pp.261-276. (10.1007/s11111-017-0291-1)
2017
- Corner, A. J. et al. 2017. European Perceptions of Climate Change (EPCC): six recommendations for public engagement. Project Report.Oxford: Climate Outreach.
- Grey, C. N. B. et al. 2017. The short-term health and psychosocial impacts of domestic energy efficiency investments in low-income areas: a controlled before and after study. BMC Public Health 17 (1) 140. (10.1186/s12889-017-4075-4)
- Grey, C. N. B. et al. 2017. Cold homes, fuel poverty and energy efficiency improvements: A longitudinal focus group approach. Indoor and Built Environment 26 (7), pp.902-913. (10.1177/1420326X17703450)
- Nash, N. et al. 2017. Climate-relevant behavioural spillover and the potential contribution of social practice theory. WIREs Climate Change 8 (6) e481. (10.1002/wcc.481)
- Poortinga, W. 2017. Results of a field experiment to reduce coffee cup waste. Project Report.Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture & School of Psychology, Cardiff University.
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2017. Neighborhood quality and attachment: Validation of the Revised Residential Environment Assessment Tool. Environment and Behavior 49 (3), pp.255-282. (10.1177/0013916516634403)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2017. Social and health outcomes following upgrades to a national housing standard: a multilevel analysis of a five-wave repeated cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health 17 927. (10.1186/s12889-017-4928-x)
- Steentjes, K. et al. 2017. European Perceptions of Climate Change (EPCC): Topline findings of a survey conducted in four European countries in 2016. Project Report.Cardiff: Cardiff University.
2016
- Arnold, A. et al., 2016. Socio-political profiles to inform a cross-national survey in France, Germany, Norway and the UK.. Project Report.[Online].Oxford: Climate Outreach. Available at: http://climateoutreach.org/resources/european-perceptions.
- Jones, N. et al. 2016. The effect of a housing intervention on the quality of the neighbourhood environment. Working paper. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture. Available at: http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/architecture/research/working-paper-series/.
- Poortinga, W. and Darnton, A. 2016. Segmenting for sustainability: The development of a sustainability segmentation model from a Welsh sample. Journal of Environmental Psychology 45 , pp.221-232. (10.1016/j.jenvp.2016.01.009)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2016. Short-term health and social impacts of energy-efficiency investments in low-income communities: a controlled field study. The Lancet 388 (S2), pp.S96-S96. (10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32332-7)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2016. The English plastic bag charge: Changes in attitudes and behaviour. Project Report.Welsh School of Architecture, School of Psychology, Cardiff University.
- Rodgers, S. E. et al., 2016. Effects of national housing quality standards on hospital emergency admissions: a quasi-experiment using data-linkage. The Lancet 388 (Supp 2), pp.S3. (10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32239-5)
- Suffolk, C. and Poortinga, W. 2016. Behavioural changes after energy efficiency improvements in residential properties. In: Santarius, T. , Walnum, H. J. and Aall, C. eds. Rethinking Climate and Energy Policies. New Perspectives on the Rebound Phenomenon. Springer. , pp.121-142. (10.1007/978-3-319-38807-6_8)
- Thomas, G. O. , Poortinga, W. and Sautkina, E. 2016. Habit discontinuity, self-activation, and the diminishing influence of context change: evidence from the UK understanding society survey. PLoS ONE 11 (4) e0153490. (10.1371/journal.pone.0153490)
- Thomas, G. O. , Poortinga, W. and Sautkina, E. 2016. The Welsh Single-Use Carrier Bag Charge and behavioural spillover. Journal of Environmental Psychology 47 , pp.126-135. (10.1016/j.jenvp.2016.05.008)
2015
- Fenenga, C. J. et al., 2015. Social capital and active membership in the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme - a mixed method study. International Journal for Equity in Health 14 (1) 118. (10.1186/s12939-015-0239-y)
2014
- Bird, D. K. et al., 2014. Nuclear power in Australia: A comparative analysis of public opinion regarding climate change and the Fukushima disaster. Energy Policy 65 , pp.644-653. (10.1016/j.enpol.2013.09.047)
- Capstick, S. B. et al. 2014. International trends in public perceptions of climate change over the past quarter century. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change 6 (1), pp.35-61. (10.1002/wcc.321)
- Demski, C. C. , Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2014. Exploring public perceptions of energy security risks in the UK. Energy Policy 66 , pp.369-378. (10.1016/j.enpol.2013.10.079)
- Marshall, G. et al., 2014. Sustainable development narratives for Wales: a framework for communications. Project Report.[Online].Welsh Government. Available at: http://wales.gov.uk/docs/dsjlg/publications/140206-sus-dev-narratives.pdf.
- Rodgers, S. E. et al., 2014. Cohort Profile: The housing regeneration and health study. International Journal of Epidemiology 43 (1), pp.52-60. (10.1093/ije/dys200)
2013
- de Groot, J. I. M. , Steg, L. and Poortinga, W. 2013. Values, perceived risks and benefits, and acceptability of nuclear energy. Risk Analysis 33 (2), pp.307-317. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01845.x)
- Poortinga, W. and Aoyagi, M. 2013. Public perceptions of climate change and energy futures before and after the Fukushima accident. Working paper. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture. Available at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/archi/images/working%20papers/WSA%20Working%20Paper%2001-2013.pdf.
- Poortinga, W. , Aoyagi, M. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2013. Public perceptions of climate change and energy futures before and after the Fukushima accident: A comparison between Britain and Japan. Energy Policy 62 , pp.1204-1211. (10.1016/j.enpol.2013.08.015)
- Poortinga, W. , Whitmarsh, L. E. and Suffolk, C. 2013. The introduction of a single-use carrier bag charge in Wales: Attitude change and behavioural spillover effects. Journal of Environmental Psychology 36 , pp.240-247. (10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.09.001)
2012
- Pidgeon, N. F. et al. 2012. Exploring early public responses to geoengineering. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series A: Mathematical and Physical Sciences 370 (1974), pp.4176-4196. (10.1098/rsta.2012.0099)
- Poortinga, W. 2012. Community resilience and health: The role of bonding, bridging, and linking aspects of social capital. Health & Place 18 (2), pp.286-295. (10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.09.017)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2012. Individual-motivational factors in the acceptability of demand-side and supply-side measures to reduce carbon emissions. Energy Policy 48 , pp.812-819. (10.1016/j.enpol.2012.06.029)
- Poortinga, W. , Whitmarsh, L. E. and Suffolk, C. 2012. The introduction of a single-use carrier bag charge in Wales: attitude change and behavioural spillover effects. Working paper. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture.
- Spence, A. , Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2012. The psychological distance of climate change. Risk Analysis 32 (6), pp.957-972. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2011.01695.x)
2011
- Corner, A. J. et al. 2011. Nuclear power, climate change and energy security: Exploring British public attitudes. Energy Policy 39 (9), pp.4823-4833. (10.1016/j.enpol.2011.06.037)
- Parag, Y. , Capstick, S. B. and Poortinga, W. 2011. Policy attribute framing: A comparison between three policy instruments for personal emissions reduction. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 30 (4), pp.889-905. (10.1002/pam.20610)
- Poortinga, W. , Bronstering, K. and Lannon, S. C. 2011. Awareness and Perceptions of the Risks of Exposure to Indoor Radon: A Population-Based Approach to Evaluate a Radon Awareness and Testing Campaign in England and Wales. Risk Analysis 31 (11), pp.1800-1812. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2011.01613.x)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2011. Neighborhood environment, physical activity and obesity. In: Nriagu, J. O. ed. Encyclopedia of Environmental Health. Vol. 4, Amsterdam: Elsevier. , pp.44-53. (10.1016/B978-0-444-52272-6.00425-6)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2011. Uncertain climate: An investigation into public scepticism about anthropogenic climate change. Global Environmental Change 21 (3), pp.1015-1024. (10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.03.001)
- Spence, A. et al., 2011. Perceptions of climate change and willingness to save energy related to flood experience. Nature Climate Change 1 (1), pp.46-49. (10.1038/nclimate1059)
- Van Woerden, H. C. et al. 2011. The relationship of different sources of social support and civic participation with self-rated health. Journal of Public Mental Health 10 (3), pp.126-139. (10.1108/17465721111175010)
- Whitmarsh, L. E. et al. 2011. Public attitudes, understanding, and engagement in relation to low-carbon energy. A selective review of academic and non-academic literatures : report for RCUK Energy Programme. Project Report.[Online].Research Councils UK. Available at: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/RCUK-prod/assets/documents/energy/EnergySynthesisFINAL20110124.pdf.
2010
- Spence, A. A. et al. 2010. Public perceptions of energy choices: the influence of beliefs about climate change and the environment. Energy and Environment 21 (5), pp.385-407. (10.1260/0958-305X.21.5.385)
2009
- Tompkins, E. L. , Hurlston, L. and Poortinga, W. 2009. Foreignness as a constraint on learning: The impact of migrants on disaster resilience in small islands. Environmental Hazards: human and policy dimensions 8 (4), pp.263-277. (10.3763/ehaz.2009.0018)
2008
- Bickerstaff, K. et al., 2008. Reframing nuclear power in the UK energy debate: nuclear power, climate change mitigation and radioactive waste. Public Understanding of Science 17 (2), pp.145-169. (10.1177/0963662506066719)
- Pidgeon, N. F. , Lorenzoni, I. and Poortinga, W. 2008. Climate change or nuclear power - No thanks! A quantitative study of public perceptions and risk framing in Britain. Global Environmental Change 18 (1), pp.69-85. (10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2007.09.005)
- Poortinga, W. , Cox, P. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2008. The perceived health risks of indoor radon gas and overhead powerlines: A comparative multilevel approach. Risk Analysis 28 (1), pp.235-248. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2008.01015.x)
- Poortinga, W. , Dunstan, F. D. J. and Fone, D. L. 2008. Health locus of control beliefs and socio-economic differences in self-rated health. Preventive Medicine 46 (4), pp.374-380. (10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.11.015)
- Poortinga, W. , Dunstan, F. D. J. and Fone, D. L. 2008. Neighbourhood deprivation and self-rated health: The role of perceptions of the neighbourhood and of housing problems. Health & Place 14 (3), pp.562-575. (10.1016/j.healthplace.2007.10.003)
- Rowe, G. et al., 2008. Analysis of a normative framework for evaluating public engagement exercises: reliability, validity and limitations. Public Understanding of Science 17 (4), pp.419-441. (10.1177/0963662506075351)
2007
- Horlick-Jones, T. E. et al. 2007. The GM debate: risk, politics and public engagement. Genetics and Society Abingdon and New York: Routledge.
- Pidgeon, N. F. , Poortinga, W. and Walls, J. 2007. Scepticism, reliance and risk managing institutions: towards a conceptual model of 'critical trust'. In: Siegrist, M. , Earle, T. C. and Gutscher, H. eds. Trust in Cooperative Risk Management: Uncertainty and Scepticism in the Public Mind. The Earthscan Risk in Society Series London: Earthscan. , pp.117-142.
- Poortinga, W. 2007. Associations of physical activity with smoking and alcohol consumption: A sport or occupation effect?. Preventive Medicine 45 (1), pp.66-70. (10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.04.013)
- Poortinga, W. 2007. The prevalence and clustering of four major lifestyle risk factors in an English adult population. Preventive Medicine 44 (2), pp.124-128. (10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.10.006)
- Poortinga, W. , Dunstan, F. D. J. and Fone, D. L. 2007. Perceptions of the neighbourhood environment and self rated health: a multilevel analysis of the Caerphilly Health and Social Needs Study. BMC Public Health 7 285. (10.1186/1471-2458-7-285)
- Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2007. Public perceptions of agricultural biotechnology in Britain: the case of GM food. In: Brossard, D. , Shanahan, J. and Nesbitt, C. eds. The Public, the Media and Agricultural Biotechnology. Cambridge, MA: CABI Publishing. , pp.21-56.
2006
- Horlick-Jones, T. E. et al. 2006. On evaluating the GM Nation? Public debate about the commercialisation of transgenic crops in Britain. New Genetics and Society 25 (3), pp.265-288. (10.1080/14636770601032858)
- Lorenzoni, I. et al., 2006. Cross-national comparisons of image associations with "global warming" and "climate change" among laypeople in the United States of America and Great Britain. Journal of Risk Research 9 (3), pp.265-281. (10.1080/13669870600613658)
- Pidgeon, N. F. and Poortinga, W. 2006. British public attitudes to agricultural biotechnology and the 2003 GM nation? Public debate: distrust, ambivalence and risk. In: Glasner, P. , Atkinson, P. and Greenslade, H. eds. New Genetics, New Social Formations. Genetics and Society New York, NY: Routledge. , pp.10-36.
- Poortinga, W. 2006. Do health behaviors mediate the association between social capital and health?. Preventive Medicine 43 (6), pp.488-493. (10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.06.004)
- Poortinga, W. 2006. Perceptions of the environment, physical activity, and obesity. Social Science and Medicine 63 (11), pp.2835-2846. (10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.07.018)
- Poortinga, W. 2006. Social capital: An individual or collective resource for health?. Social Science & Medicine 62 (2), pp.292-302. (10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.06.008)
- Poortinga, W. 2006. Social relations or social capital? Individual and community health effects of bonding social capital. Social Science & Medicine 63 (1), pp.255-270. (10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.11.039)
- Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2006. Exploring the structure of attitudes toward genetically modified food. Risk Analysis 26 (6), pp.1707-1719. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2006.00828.x)
- Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2006. Prior attitudes, salient value similarity, and dimensionality: Toward an integrative model of trust in risk regulation. Journal of Applied Social Psychology 36 (7), pp.1674-1700. (10.1111/j.0021-9029.2006.00076.x)
- Poortinga, W. , Pidgeon, N. F. and Lorenzoni, I. 2006. Public perceptions of nuclear power, climate change and energy options in Britain: Summary findings of a survey conducted during october and november 2005. Technical Report.
- Rowe, G. , Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2006. A comparison of responses to Internet and postal surveys in a public engagement context. Science Communication 27 (3), pp.352-375. (10.1177/1075547005284668)
2005
- Pidgeon, N. F. et al. 2005. Using surveys in public participation processes for risk decision-making: the case of the 2003 British GM Nation? Public Debate. Risk Analysis 25 (2), pp.467-479. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2005.00603.x)
- Poortinga, W. 2005. The use of multi-level modelling in risk research. A secondary analysis of a study of public perceptions of genetically modified food. Journal of Risk Research 8 (7-8), pp.583-597. (10.1080/1366987042000310677)
- Poortinga, W. 2005. Vertrouwen en de perceptie van technologische risico's. In: Pieterman, R. , Dekker, P. and Elffers, H. eds. Veiligheid, Vertrouwen en Good Governance. Den Haag: Elsevier
- Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2005. Trust in risk regulation: cause or consequence of the acceptability of GM food?. Risk Analysis 25 (1), pp.199-209. (10.1111/j.0272-4332.2005.00579.x)
2004
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2004. The British 2001 Foot and Mouth crisis: a comparative study of public risk perceptions, trust and beliefs about government policy in two communities. Journal of Risk Research 7 (1), pp.73-90. (10.1080/1366987042000151205)
- Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2004. Trust, the asymmetry principle, and the role of prior beliefs. Risk Analysis 24 (6), pp.1475-1486. (10.1111/j.0272-4332.2004.00543.x)
- Poortinga, W. , Steg, L. and Vlek, C. 2004. Values, environmental concern and environmentally significant behaviour: a study into household energy use. Environment & Behavior 36 (1), pp.70-93. (10.1177/0013916503251466)
2003
- Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2003. Exploring the dimensionality of trust in risk regulation. Risk Analysis 23 (5), pp.961-972. (10.1111/1539-6924.00373)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2003. Household preferences for energy-saving measures: A conjoint analysis. Journal of Economic Psychology 24 (1), pp.49-64. (10.1016/S0167-4870(02)00154-X)
2002
- Poortinga, W. and Dekker, P. 2002. Voedselveiligheid: een kwestie van vertrouwen? [Food safety: a matter of trust?]. In: Bronner, A. E. et al., Recente Ontwikkelingen in het Marktonderzoek: Jaarboek 2002. Haarlem, Netherlands: De Vrieseborch. , pp.157-171.
- Poortinga, W. and Steg, L. 2002. Viable behavioural and technological energy-saving measures. Milieu: Tijdschrift voor Milieukunde 17 (3), pp.123-135.
- Poortinga, W. , Steg, L. and Vlek, C. 2002. Myths of nature and environmental management strategies: A field study on energy reductions in traffic and transport. Presented at: 16th International Association for People-Environment Studies Paris, France July 2000. Published in: Moser, G. et al., People, Places, and Sustainability. Göttingen: Hogrefe & Huber. , pp.280-290.
- Poortinga, W. , Steg, L. and Vlek, C. 2002. Environmental risk concern and preferences for energy-saving measures. Environment & Behavior 34 (4), pp.455-478. (10.1177/00116502034004003)
2001
- Hendrickx, L. , Poortinga, W. and van der Kooij, R. 2001. Temporal factors in resource dilemmas. Acta Psychologica 108 (2), pp.137-154. (10.1016/S0001-6918(01)00032-4)
Articles
- Bertoldo, R. et al., 2019. Scientific truth or debate: On the link between perceived scientific consensus and belief in anthropogenic climate change. Public Understanding of Science 28 (7), pp.778-796. (10.1177/0963662519865448)
- Bickerstaff, K. et al., 2008. Reframing nuclear power in the UK energy debate: nuclear power, climate change mitigation and radioactive waste. Public Understanding of Science 17 (2), pp.145-169. (10.1177/0963662506066719)
- Bird, D. K. et al., 2014. Nuclear power in Australia: A comparative analysis of public opinion regarding climate change and the Fukushima disaster. Energy Policy 65 , pp.644-653. (10.1016/j.enpol.2013.09.047)
- Böhm, G. et al., 2023. Emotional reactions to climate change: a comparison across France, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Frontiers in Psychology 14 1139133. (10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1139133)
- Bouman, T. et al., 2020. When worry about climate change leads to climate action: how values, worry and personal responsibility relate to various climate actions. Global Environmental Change 62 102061. (10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102061)
- Capstick, S. et al. 2022. The connection between subjective wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour: Individual and cross-national characteristics in a seven-country study. Environmental Science and Policy 133 , pp.63-73. (10.1016/j.envsci.2022.02.025)
- Capstick, S. B. et al. 2014. International trends in public perceptions of climate change over the past quarter century. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change 6 (1), pp.35-61. (10.1002/wcc.321)
- Chard, E. et al. 2024. Gender and cross-country differences in the determinants of sustainable diet intentions: A multigroup analysis of the UK, China, Sweden, and Brazil. Frontiers in Psychology 15 (10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1355969)
- Corner, A. J. et al. 2011. Nuclear power, climate change and energy security: Exploring British public attitudes. Energy Policy 39 (9), pp.4823-4833. (10.1016/j.enpol.2011.06.037)
- de Groot, J. I. M. , Steg, L. and Poortinga, W. 2013. Values, perceived risks and benefits, and acceptability of nuclear energy. Risk Analysis 33 (2), pp.307-317. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01845.x)
- Demski, C. et al. 2018. National context is a key determinant of energy security concerns across Europe. Nature Energy 3 , pp.882-888. (10.1038/s41560-018-0235-8)
- Demski, C. C. , Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2014. Exploring public perceptions of energy security risks in the UK. Energy Policy 66 , pp.369-378. (10.1016/j.enpol.2013.10.079)
- Fenenga, C. J. et al., 2015. Social capital and active membership in the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme - a mixed method study. International Journal for Equity in Health 14 (1) 118. (10.1186/s12939-015-0239-y)
- Fisher, S. D. et al., 2022. The politicisation of climate change attitudes in Europe. Electoral Studies 79 102499. (10.1016/j.electstud.2022.102499)
- Gregersen, T. et al., 2021. Outcome expectancies moderate the association between worry about climate change and personal energy-saving behaviors. PLoS ONE 16 (5) e0252105. (10.1371/journal.pone.0252105)
- Gregersen, T. et al., 2020. Political orientation moderates the relationship between climate change beliefs and worry about climate change. Frontiers in Psychology 11 1573. (10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01573)
- Grey, C. N. B. et al. 2017. The short-term health and psychosocial impacts of domestic energy efficiency investments in low-income areas: a controlled before and after study. BMC Public Health 17 (1) 140. (10.1186/s12889-017-4075-4)
- Grey, C. N. B. et al. 2017. Cold homes, fuel poverty and energy efficiency improvements: A longitudinal focus group approach. Indoor and Built Environment 26 (7), pp.902-913. (10.1177/1420326X17703450)
- Guati-Rojo, A. et al., 2021. Public attitudes and concerns about ammonia as an energy vector. Energies 14 (21) 7296. (10.3390/en14217296)
- Hendrickx, L. , Poortinga, W. and van der Kooij, R. 2001. Temporal factors in resource dilemmas. Acta Psychologica 108 (2), pp.137-154. (10.1016/S0001-6918(01)00032-4)
- Horlick-Jones, T. E. et al. 2006. On evaluating the GM Nation? Public debate about the commercialisation of transgenic crops in Britain. New Genetics and Society 25 (3), pp.265-288. (10.1080/14636770601032858)
- Junker, M. et al. 2025. Pathways to nature connection? A photo-elicitation exploration on how children engage with a nature connection programme.. Environmental Education Research
- Latter, B. et al. 2025. Experiences of car free living: Findings of a trial across four cities in England. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives 31 101484. (10.1016/j.trip.2025.101484)
- Lorenzoni, I. et al., 2006. Cross-national comparisons of image associations with "global warming" and "climate change" among laypeople in the United States of America and Great Britain. Journal of Risk Research 9 (3), pp.265-281. (10.1080/13669870600613658)
- Malet Lambert, I. et al. 2026. Exploring public discourse about new cycle lanes and low-traffic neighbourhoods using Twitter/X data. Travel Behaviour and Society 42 101128. (10.1016/j.tbs.2025.101128)
- Malet Lambert, I. et al. 2026. Preferences for urban street space reallocation to encourage cycling: A Best-Worst Scaling profile case approach. Travel Behaviour and Society 43 101205. (10.1016/j.tbs.2025.101205)
- Matsunaga, L. H. et al., 2025. The self-serving veil of justice: egocentric bias fosters zero-sum thinking despite fair settings. Social Justice Research (10.1007/s11211-025-00459-z)
- Milfont, T. L. , Poortinga, W. and Sibley, C. G. 2020. Does having children increase environmental concern? Testing parenthood effects with longitudinal data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study. PLoS ONE 15 (3)(10.1371/journal.pone.0230361)
- Mouratidis, K. and Poortinga, W. 2020. Built environment, urban vitality and social cohesion: Do vibrant neighborhoods foster strong communities?. Landscape and Urban Planning 204 103951. (10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103951)
- Nash, N. et al. 2017. Climate-relevant behavioural spillover and the potential contribution of social practice theory. WIREs Climate Change 8 (6) e481. (10.1002/wcc.481)
- Parag, Y. , Capstick, S. B. and Poortinga, W. 2011. Policy attribute framing: A comparison between three policy instruments for personal emissions reduction. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 30 (4), pp.889-905. (10.1002/pam.20610)
- Phillips, R. et al., 2025. Are you afraid of COVID-19? Motivation and engagement in infection–prevention behaviour in a UK community cohort during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. British Journal of Health Psychology 30 (4) e70034. (10.1111/bjhp.70034)
- Phillips, R. et al., 2021. Cohort profile: The UK COVID-19 Public Experiences (COPE) prospective longitudinal mixed-methods study of health and well-being during the SARSCoV2 coronavirus pandemic. PLoS ONE 16 (10) e0258484. (10.1371/journal.pone.0258484)
- Pidgeon, N. F. et al. 2012. Exploring early public responses to geoengineering. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series A: Mathematical and Physical Sciences 370 (1974), pp.4176-4196. (10.1098/rsta.2012.0099)
- Pidgeon, N. F. , Lorenzoni, I. and Poortinga, W. 2008. Climate change or nuclear power - No thanks! A quantitative study of public perceptions and risk framing in Britain. Global Environmental Change 18 (1), pp.69-85. (10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2007.09.005)
- Pidgeon, N. F. et al. 2005. Using surveys in public participation processes for risk decision-making: the case of the 2003 British GM Nation? Public Debate. Risk Analysis 25 (2), pp.467-479. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2005.00603.x)
- Pohjolainen, P. et al., 2024. The role of national affluence, carbon emissions, and democracy in Europeans' climate perceptions. Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research 37 (2), pp.515-533. (10.1080/13511610.2021.1909465)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2018. The health impacts of energy performance investments in low-income areas: a mixed-methods approach. Public Health Research 6 (5), pp.1-182. (10.3310/phr06050)
- Poortinga, W. 2007. Associations of physical activity with smoking and alcohol consumption: A sport or occupation effect?. Preventive Medicine 45 (1), pp.66-70. (10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.04.013)
- Poortinga, W. 2012. Community resilience and health: The role of bonding, bridging, and linking aspects of social capital. Health & Place 18 (2), pp.286-295. (10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.09.017)
- Poortinga, W. 2006. Do health behaviors mediate the association between social capital and health?. Preventive Medicine 43 (6), pp.488-493. (10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.06.004)
- Poortinga, W. 2006. Perceptions of the environment, physical activity, and obesity. Social Science and Medicine 63 (11), pp.2835-2846. (10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.07.018)
- Poortinga, W. 2006. Social capital: An individual or collective resource for health?. Social Science & Medicine 62 (2), pp.292-302. (10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.06.008)
- Poortinga, W. 2006. Social relations or social capital? Individual and community health effects of bonding social capital. Social Science & Medicine 63 (1), pp.255-270. (10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.11.039)
- Poortinga, W. 2007. The prevalence and clustering of four major lifestyle risk factors in an English adult population. Preventive Medicine 44 (2), pp.124-128. (10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.10.006)
- Poortinga, W. 2025. The role of policy appraisals and second-order beliefs in public support for climate policies in the UK. Climate Policy (10.1080/14693062.2025.2539977)
- Poortinga, W. 2005. The use of multi-level modelling in risk research. A secondary analysis of a study of public perceptions of genetically modified food. Journal of Risk Research 8 (7-8), pp.583-597. (10.1080/1366987042000310677)
- Poortinga, W. , Aoyagi, M. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2013. Public perceptions of climate change and energy futures before and after the Fukushima accident: A comparison between Britain and Japan. Energy Policy 62 , pp.1204-1211. (10.1016/j.enpol.2013.08.015)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2004. The British 2001 Foot and Mouth crisis: a comparative study of public risk perceptions, trust and beliefs about government policy in two communities. Journal of Risk Research 7 (1), pp.73-90. (10.1080/1366987042000151205)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2021. The role of perceived public and private green space in subjective health and wellbeing during and after the first peak of the COVID-19 outbreak. Landscape and Urban Planning 211 104092. (10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104092)
- Poortinga, W. , Bronstering, K. and Lannon, S. C. 2011. Awareness and Perceptions of the Risks of Exposure to Indoor Radon: A Population-Based Approach to Evaluate a Radon Awareness and Testing Campaign in England and Wales. Risk Analysis 31 (11), pp.1800-1812. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2011.01613.x)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2017. Neighborhood quality and attachment: Validation of the Revised Residential Environment Assessment Tool. Environment and Behavior 49 (3), pp.255-282. (10.1177/0013916516634403)
- Poortinga, W. , Cox, P. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2008. The perceived health risks of indoor radon gas and overhead powerlines: A comparative multilevel approach. Risk Analysis 28 (1), pp.235-248. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2008.01015.x)
- Poortinga, W. and Darnton, A. 2016. Segmenting for sustainability: The development of a sustainability segmentation model from a Welsh sample. Journal of Environmental Psychology 45 , pp.221-232. (10.1016/j.jenvp.2016.01.009)
- Poortinga, W. , Demski, C. and Steentjes, K. 2023. Generational differences in climate-related beliefs, risk perceptions and emotions in the UK. Communications Earth & Environment 4 229. (10.1038/s43247-023-00870-x)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2024. Associations of reported access to public green space, physical activity and subjective wellbeing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Environmental Psychology 97 102376. (10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102376)
- Poortinga, W. , Dunstan, F. D. J. and Fone, D. L. 2008. Health locus of control beliefs and socio-economic differences in self-rated health. Preventive Medicine 46 (4), pp.374-380. (10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.11.015)
- Poortinga, W. , Dunstan, F. D. J. and Fone, D. L. 2008. Neighbourhood deprivation and self-rated health: The role of perceptions of the neighbourhood and of housing problems. Health & Place 14 (3), pp.562-575. (10.1016/j.healthplace.2007.10.003)
- Poortinga, W. , Dunstan, F. D. J. and Fone, D. L. 2007. Perceptions of the neighbourhood environment and self rated health: a multilevel analysis of the Caerphilly Health and Social Needs Study. BMC Public Health 7 285. (10.1186/1471-2458-7-285)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2016. Short-term health and social impacts of energy-efficiency investments in low-income communities: a controlled field study. The Lancet 388 (S2), pp.S96-S96. (10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32332-7)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2018. Impacts of energy-efficiency investments on internal conditions in low-income households. Building Research and Information 46 (6), pp.653-667. (10.1080/09613218.2017.1314641)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2017. Social and health outcomes following upgrades to a national housing standard: a multilevel analysis of a five-wave repeated cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health 17 927. (10.1186/s12889-017-4928-x)
- Poortinga, W. , Latter, B. and Wang, S. 2022. Comparing coronavirus (COVID-19) and climate change perceptions: Implications for support for individual and collective-level policies. Frontiers in Psychology 13 996546. (10.3389/fpsyg.2022.996546)
- Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2003. Exploring the dimensionality of trust in risk regulation. Risk Analysis 23 (5), pp.961-972. (10.1111/1539-6924.00373)
- Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2006. Exploring the structure of attitudes toward genetically modified food. Risk Analysis 26 (6), pp.1707-1719. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2006.00828.x)
- Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2006. Prior attitudes, salient value similarity, and dimensionality: Toward an integrative model of trust in risk regulation. Journal of Applied Social Psychology 36 (7), pp.1674-1700. (10.1111/j.0021-9029.2006.00076.x)
- Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2005. Trust in risk regulation: cause or consequence of the acceptability of GM food?. Risk Analysis 25 (1), pp.199-209. (10.1111/j.0272-4332.2005.00579.x)
- Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2004. Trust, the asymmetry principle, and the role of prior beliefs. Risk Analysis 24 (6), pp.1475-1486. (10.1111/j.0272-4332.2004.00543.x)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2012. Individual-motivational factors in the acceptability of demand-side and supply-side measures to reduce carbon emissions. Energy Policy 48 , pp.812-819. (10.1016/j.enpol.2012.06.029)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2011. Uncertain climate: An investigation into public scepticism about anthropogenic climate change. Global Environmental Change 21 (3), pp.1015-1024. (10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.03.001)
- Poortinga, W. and Steg, L. 2002. Viable behavioural and technological energy-saving measures. Milieu: Tijdschrift voor Milieukunde 17 (3), pp.123-135.
- Poortinga, W. , Steg, L. and Vlek, C. 2004. Values, environmental concern and environmentally significant behaviour: a study into household energy use. Environment & Behavior 36 (1), pp.70-93. (10.1177/0013916503251466)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2003. Household preferences for energy-saving measures: A conjoint analysis. Journal of Economic Psychology 24 (1), pp.49-64. (10.1016/S0167-4870(02)00154-X)
- Poortinga, W. , Steg, L. and Vlek, C. 2002. Environmental risk concern and preferences for energy-saving measures. Environment & Behavior 34 (4), pp.455-478. (10.1177/00116502034004003)
- Poortinga, W. and Whitaker, L. 2018. Promoting the use of reusable coffee cups through environmental messaging, the provision of alternatives and financial incentives. Sustainability 10 (3) 873. (10.3390/su10030873)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2023. Factors and framing effects in support for net zero policies in the UK. Frontiers in Psychology 14 (10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1287188)
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2019. Climate change perceptions and their individual-level determinants: A cross-European analysis. Global Environmental Change 55 , pp.25-35. (10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.01.007)
- Poortinga, W. , Whitmarsh, L. E. and Suffolk, C. 2013. The introduction of a single-use carrier bag charge in Wales: Attitude change and behavioural spillover effects. Journal of Environmental Psychology 36 , pp.240-247. (10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.09.001)
- Roberts, A. , Poortinga, W. and Williams, M. O. 2025. Climate anxiety in the United Kingdom: Associations with environmentally relevant behavioural intentions, and the moderating role of efficacy. Journal of Environmental Psychology 105 102595. (10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102595)
- Rodgers, S. E. et al., 2016. Effects of national housing quality standards on hospital emergency admissions: a quasi-experiment using data-linkage. The Lancet 388 (Supp 2), pp.S3. (10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32239-5)
- Rodgers, S. E. et al., 2018. Emergency hospital admissions associated with a non-randomised housing intervention meeting national housing quality standards: a longitudinal data linkage study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 72 (10), pp.896-903. (10.1136/jech-2017-210370)
- Rodgers, S. E. et al., 2018. Health impact, and economic value, of meeting housing quality standards: a retrospective longitudinal data linkage study. Public Health Research 6 (8), pp.1-104. (10.3310/phr06080)
- Rodgers, S. E. et al., 2014. Cohort Profile: The housing regeneration and health study. International Journal of Epidemiology 43 (1), pp.52-60. (10.1093/ije/dys200)
- Rowe, G. et al., 2008. Analysis of a normative framework for evaluating public engagement exercises: reliability, validity and limitations. Public Understanding of Science 17 (4), pp.419-441. (10.1177/0963662506075351)
- Rowe, G. , Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2006. A comparison of responses to Internet and postal surveys in a public engagement context. Science Communication 27 (3), pp.352-375. (10.1177/1075547005284668)
- Sonnberger, M. et al., 2021. Climate concerned but anti-nuclear: exploring (dis)approval of nuclear energy in four European countries. Energy Research and Social Science 75 102008. (10.1016/j.erss.2021.102008)
- Spence, A. et al., 2011. Perceptions of climate change and willingness to save energy related to flood experience. Nature Climate Change 1 (1), pp.46-49. (10.1038/nclimate1059)
- Spence, A. , Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2012. The psychological distance of climate change. Risk Analysis 32 (6), pp.957-972. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2011.01695.x)
- Spence, A. A. et al. 2010. Public perceptions of energy choices: the influence of beliefs about climate change and the environment. Energy and Environment 21 (5), pp.385-407. (10.1260/0958-305X.21.5.385)
- Swaffield, J. , Whitmarsh, L. and Poortinga, W. 2023. Interrupting the flow of water: Behavioural interventions and moments of change. Institute of Water Journal 8 , pp.4-5.
- Thomas, G. O. et al. 2018. The impact of parenthood on environmental attitudes and behaviour: a longitudinal investigation of the legacy hypothesis. Population and Environment 39 (3), pp.261-276. (10.1007/s11111-017-0291-1)
- Thomas, G. O. , Poortinga, W. and Sautkina, E. 2016. Habit discontinuity, self-activation, and the diminishing influence of context change: evidence from the UK understanding society survey. PLoS ONE 11 (4) e0153490. (10.1371/journal.pone.0153490)
- Thomas, G. O. , Poortinga, W. and Sautkina, E. 2016. The Welsh Single-Use Carrier Bag Charge and behavioural spillover. Journal of Environmental Psychology 47 , pp.126-135. (10.1016/j.jenvp.2016.05.008)
- Thomas, G. O. et al. 2019. The English plastic bag charge changed behaviour and increased support for other charges to reduce plastic waste. Frontiers in Psychology 10 266. (10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00266)
- Tirotto, F. A. et al. 2025. Psychological and contextual drivers of indoor air quality behaviours in a deprived urban community: Evidence from participatory research. Building and Environment
- Tompkins, E. L. , Hurlston, L. and Poortinga, W. 2009. Foreignness as a constraint on learning: The impact of migrants on disaster resilience in small islands. Environmental Hazards: human and policy dimensions 8 (4), pp.263-277. (10.3763/ehaz.2009.0018)
- Umit, R. et al., 2019. The role of income in energy efficiency and curtailment behaviours: Findings from 22 European countries. Energy Research and Social Science 53 , pp.206-214. (10.1016/j.erss.2019.02.025)
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- Verfuerth, C. et al. 2023. A people-centred approach is needed to meet net zero goals. Journal of the British Academy 11 (S4), pp.97-124. (10.5871/jba/011s4.097)
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- Whitmarsh, L. , Poortinga, W. and Capstick, S. 2021. Behaviour change to address climate change. Current Opinion in Psychology 42 , pp.76-81. (10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.04.002)
- Whittle, C. et al. 2022. Life events and their association with changes in the frequency of transport use in a large UK sample. Travel Behaviour and Society 28 , pp.273-287. (10.1016/j.tbs.2022.04.007)
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- Wolstenholme, E. et al. 2021. Explaining intention to reduce red and processed meat in the UK and Italy using the theory of planned behaviour, meat-eater identity, and the Transtheoretical model. Appetite 166 105467. (10.1016/j.appet.2021.105467)
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- Wolstenholme, E. , Poortinga, W. and Whitmarsh, L. 2020. Two birds, one stone: the effectiveness of health and environmental messages to reduce meat consumption and encourage pro-environmental behavioural spillover. Frontiers in Psychology 11 577111. (10.3389/fpsyg.2020.577111)
Book sections
- Fisher, S. , Fitzgerald, R. and Poortinga, W. 2018. Climate change: social divisions in beliefs and behaviour. In: Curtice, J. et al., British Social Attitudes: The 35th Report. London: The National Centre for Social Research. , pp.1-26.
- Pidgeon, N. F. and Poortinga, W. 2006. British public attitudes to agricultural biotechnology and the 2003 GM nation? Public debate: distrust, ambivalence and risk. In: Glasner, P. , Atkinson, P. and Greenslade, H. eds. New Genetics, New Social Formations. Genetics and Society New York, NY: Routledge. , pp.10-36.
- Pidgeon, N. F. , Poortinga, W. and Walls, J. 2007. Scepticism, reliance and risk managing institutions: towards a conceptual model of 'critical trust'. In: Siegrist, M. , Earle, T. C. and Gutscher, H. eds. Trust in Cooperative Risk Management: Uncertainty and Scepticism in the Public Mind. The Earthscan Risk in Society Series London: Earthscan. , pp.117-142.
- Poortinga, W. 2019. Health and social outcomes of housing policies to alleviate fuel poverty. In: Fabbri, K. ed. Urban Fuel Poverty. Academic Press. , pp.239-258. (10.1016/B978-0-12-816952-0.00010-7)
- Poortinga, W. 2005. Vertrouwen en de perceptie van technologische risico's. In: Pieterman, R. , Dekker, P. and Elffers, H. eds. Veiligheid, Vertrouwen en Good Governance. Den Haag: Elsevier
- Poortinga, W. and Dekker, P. 2002. Voedselveiligheid: een kwestie van vertrouwen? [Food safety: a matter of trust?]. In: Bronner, A. E. et al., Recente Ontwikkelingen in het Marktonderzoek: Jaarboek 2002. Haarlem, Netherlands: De Vrieseborch. , pp.157-171.
- Poortinga, W. and Drews, S. 2023. Charging for change: the effectiveness of economic instruments to change environmentally-relevant behaviours. In: Gatersleben, B. and Murtagh, N. eds. Handbook on Pro-Environmental Behaviour Change. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. , pp.289-307.
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2011. Neighborhood environment, physical activity and obesity. In: Nriagu, J. O. ed. Encyclopedia of Environmental Health. Vol. 4, Amsterdam: Elsevier. , pp.44-53. (10.1016/B978-0-444-52272-6.00425-6)
- Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N. F. 2007. Public perceptions of agricultural biotechnology in Britain: the case of GM food. In: Brossard, D. , Shanahan, J. and Nesbitt, C. eds. The Public, the Media and Agricultural Biotechnology. Cambridge, MA: CABI Publishing. , pp.21-56.
- Suffolk, C. and Poortinga, W. 2016. Behavioural changes after energy efficiency improvements in residential properties. In: Santarius, T. , Walnum, H. J. and Aall, C. eds. Rethinking Climate and Energy Policies. New Perspectives on the Rebound Phenomenon. Springer. , pp.121-142. (10.1007/978-3-319-38807-6_8)
Books
- Horlick-Jones, T. E. et al. 2007. The GM debate: risk, politics and public engagement. Genetics and Society Abingdon and New York: Routledge.
Conferences
- Poortinga, W. , Steg, L. and Vlek, C. 2002. Myths of nature and environmental management strategies: A field study on energy reductions in traffic and transport. Presented at: 16th International Association for People-Environment Studies Paris, France July 2000. Published in: Moser, G. et al., People, Places, and Sustainability. Göttingen: Hogrefe & Huber. , pp.280-290.
Monographs
- Arnold, A. et al., 2016. Socio-political profiles to inform a cross-national survey in France, Germany, Norway and the UK.. Project Report.[Online].Oxford: Climate Outreach. Available at: http://climateoutreach.org/resources/european-perceptions.
- Capstick, S. et al. 2019. CAST Briefing Paper 02: Public opinion in a time of climate emergency. Working paper. Cardiff: Cardiff University. Available at: https://cast.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/CAST-Briefing-02-Public-opinion-in-a-time-of-climate-emergency-1.pdf.
- Corner, A. J. et al. 2017. European Perceptions of Climate Change (EPCC): six recommendations for public engagement. Project Report.Oxford: Climate Outreach.
- Jones, N. et al. 2016. The effect of a housing intervention on the quality of the neighbourhood environment. Working paper. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture. Available at: http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/architecture/research/working-paper-series/.
- Marshall, G. et al., 2014. Sustainable development narratives for Wales: a framework for communications. Project Report.[Online].Welsh Government. Available at: http://wales.gov.uk/docs/dsjlg/publications/140206-sus-dev-narratives.pdf.
- Poortinga, W. 2017. Results of a field experiment to reduce coffee cup waste. Project Report.Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture & School of Psychology, Cardiff University.
- Poortinga, W. and Aoyagi, M. 2013. Public perceptions of climate change and energy futures before and after the Fukushima accident. Working paper. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture. Available at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/archi/images/working%20papers/WSA%20Working%20Paper%2001-2013.pdf.
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2018. European attitudes to climate change and energy. Topline results from Round 8 of the European Social Survey.
- Poortinga, W. , Nash, N. and Hoeijmakers, L. 2019. Rapid review of charging for disposable coffee cups and other waste minimisation measure.
- Poortinga, W. , Pidgeon, N. F. and Lorenzoni, I. 2006. Public perceptions of nuclear power, climate change and energy options in Britain: Summary findings of a survey conducted during october and november 2005. Technical Report.
- Poortinga, W. et al. 2016. The English plastic bag charge: Changes in attitudes and behaviour. Project Report.Welsh School of Architecture, School of Psychology, Cardiff University.
- Poortinga, W. , Whitmarsh, L. E. and Suffolk, C. 2012. The introduction of a single-use carrier bag charge in Wales: attitude change and behavioural spillover effects. Working paper. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture.
- Steentjes, K. et al. 2017. European Perceptions of Climate Change (EPCC): Topline findings of a survey conducted in four European countries in 2016. Project Report.Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Verfuerth, C. et al. 2025. Strengthening climate policy through social science: Co-developing behavioural indicators for climate action with the Welsh Government. Other. Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations. Available at: https://cast.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/the-centre-for-climate-change-and-social-transformations-cast-briefing-38-strengthening-climate-policy-through-social-science-co-developing-behavioural-indicators-for-climate-action-with-the-welsh-gov.pdf.
- Wahl-Jorgensen, K. et al. 2020. Advice for journalists covering Covid-19: Welsh NHS confederation. Documentation. Cardiff: School of Journalism, Media and Culture, Cardiff University.
- Whitmarsh, L. E. et al. 2011. Public attitudes, understanding, and engagement in relation to low-carbon energy. A selective review of academic and non-academic literatures : report for RCUK Energy Programme. Project Report.[Online].Research Councils UK. Available at: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/RCUK-prod/assets/documents/energy/EnergySynthesisFINAL20110124.pdf.
- Wolstenholme, E. et al. 2024. Public perceptions of climate change and policy action in the UK, China, Sweden and Brazil from 2020-2023. Documentation. CAST. Available at: https://cast.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CAST-the-centre-for-climate-change-and-social-transformations-cast-briefing-26-public-perceptions-of-climate-change-and-policy-action-in-the-uk-china-sweden-and-brazil-from-2020-to-2023.pdf.
Research
Wouter Poortinga is Professor of Environmental Psychology at the Welsh School of Architecture and the School of Psychology, Cardiff University; and associate director of the ESRC-funded Centre for Climate and Social Transformations (CAST). His research focuses on public engagement with climate change and sustainable lifestyles and behaviour; and is particularly interested in the attitudinal and behavioural implications of environmental policies, such as the plastic bag charge and Net Zero. Wouter led the design of the Climate Change and Energy module for Round 8 of the European Social Survey; developed the Welsh Sustainability Segmentation Model; and recently redesigned the environmental attitudes and behaviour module of the Understanding Society Survey. Within CAST, he co-leads the theme that works with partners and public participants to accelerate low-carbon transformations through individual and community-level interventions. Wouter is currently working with Imperial College’s Environmental Research Group on public perceptions and behavioural factors in indoor air quality.
Teaching
• Environmental Psychology (PS3415), Module Co-ordinator and Lecturer (PSYCH)
• Lecture on Quantitative Social Science Research Methods, Architectural Science Research (ARCHI)
• Lecture on Housing and Health, Low Carbon Buildings (ARCHI).
• Lecture on Social Aspects of Design, Architecture in Context module (ARCHI)
• People and Buildings module (ART102), Lectures on research methods and environmental psychology (ARCHI)
• Yr2 Academic tutorials on Social and Developmental Psychology (PSYCH)
• MSc Conversion Psychology, dissertation project supervision (PSYCH)
• M.Arch dissertation supervision (ARCHI)
• Architectural Science Masters (ASM) dissertation supervision (ARCHI)
.
Biography
Education
2002-2004: PhD Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich.
1995-1997: MSc Energy and Environmental Studies, University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Centre for Energy and Environmental Studies (IVEM).
1990-1995: MSc Social Psychology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Department of Social and Organisational Psychology
Employment
2014-present: Professor, Welsh School of Architecture/ Department of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff
2013-2014 Reader, Welsh School of Architecture/ Department of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff
2010-2013: Senior Lecturer, Welsh School of Architecture/ Department of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff
2006-2010: RCUK Academic Fellow, Welsh School of Architecture/ Department of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff
2001-2005: Senior Research Associate. Centre for Environmental Risk (CER). University of East Anglia, Norwich.
2000: Researcher. Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP), the Netherlands.
1999-2000: Researcher. Centre for Environmental and Traffic Psychology (COV), University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
Supervisions
My main supervision expertise is in:
- Environmental Psychology
- Housing & Health
- Environmental Epidemiology
- Sustainable Behaviours & Lifestyles
- Environmental Risk Perception.
Happy to consider supervision on topics relating to:
- social sustainability
- social aspects of design
- social-spatial processes using (quantitative) social science methods.
Contact Details
+44 29208 74755
Bute Building, Floor 1, Room 1.21, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB
Tower Building, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT
sbarc|spark, Floor 3, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Research themes
Specialisms
- Environmental Psychology
- Human-environment interactions
- Climate change perceptions and engagement
- Behaviour Change
- Environmental epidemiology