Changing Behaviour for Sustainable Development

Changing Behaviour for Sustainable Development, offered by SDG Academy and developed with the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, is an introductory online course designed to examine how behavioural science can support progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. The course introduces learners to the role of human behaviour in shaping sustainability outcomes and shows how behavioural insights can be applied to create change at local and global levels. It is particularly relevant for learners who want to understand how behaviour change can strengthen systems, practices, and policies linked to sustainable development.

Core Content

The curriculum is structured across six modules and covers a range of behavioural science topics connected to sustainable development. The course explores systems thinking, behaviour prioritisation, drivers and barriers of behaviour, intervention design and evaluation, ethics, and related approaches used to support behavioural change. This gives learners a practical introduction to how behavioural insights can be used to address complex sustainability challenges more effectively across different contexts.

Key Skills

Participants will develop the ability to understand what drives human behaviour, identify barriers to behavioural change, and apply behavioural science concepts to sustainability challenges. The course helps learners build a stronger understanding of systems thinking, prioritisation, intervention design, and evaluation, while also introducing the ethical considerations involved in behaviour change practice. It is designed to help learners connect behavioural insights with practical, sustainable development action.

Target Learners

This course is designed for learners interested in sustainable development, policy, systems change, and behavioural science. It is particularly relevant for those who want to understand how behavioural insights can be applied to real sustainability challenges at both local and global scales. edX lists the course as introductory level, making it suitable for students, practitioners, and general learners seeking an accessible entry point into behaviour change for sustainability.

Learning Format

Hosted through edX and SDG Academy, the course is delivered in an online format and is described as a six-module course. The edX school listing notes an estimated duration of seven weeks and identifies it as introductory level, while SDG Academy also lists it as self-paced and available at any time. This flexible structure makes it suitable for learners who want to study behaviour change and sustainability in an accessible online format.

Additional Benefits

The course offers practical value for learners who want to strengthen sustainability work with behavioural science rather than relying only on policy or technical solutions. Its development by the Monash Sustainable Development Institute and BehaviourWorks Australia adds applied expertise, while its connection to the SDGs gives the course clear relevance to global development challenges. As a result, it serves as a useful foundation for learners seeking more people-centered approaches to sustainable change.

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