Do Reusable Cups Make Eco-Zealots Less Likely to Attend Protests?
20 hours ago Eric Worrall 20 Comments
Essay by Eric Worrall
Does recycling make the climate concerned feel they’ve done their bit? Or does it make them angrier?
Does using a reusable cup make you less likely to protest climate change? We tracked 2,800 Australians to find out
Published: July 24, 2026 1.39pm AEST
Ben Newell Professor of Cognitive Psychology and Director of the Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW
Omid Ghasemi Research Associate in Behavioural Science at the Institute for Climate Risk & Response, UNSW
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Does this promotion of individual behaviours crowd out or distract from supportfor large-scale action on climate change? Is it a convenient distraction perpetrated by corporations and governments who should be doing more?
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In new research, our team looked at these questions using data from the National Climate Action Survey. Running since 2021, this survey gives detailed insights into what Australians think, feel and do about climate change.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/07/25/do-reusable-cups-make-eco-zealots-less-likely-to-attend-protests/