Climate debates often frame individual behaviour and systems change as distinct pathways to action. We suggest that social change arises from individuals’ agency within their roles in societal systems, and that this agency should be actively leveraged to achieve meaningful climate change mitigation.This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institutionAccess optionsAccess Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journalsGet Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription27,99 € / 30 dayscancel any timeLearn moreSubscribe to this journalReceive 12 print issues and online access269,00 € per yearonly 22,42 € per issueLearn moreBuy this articlePurchase on SpringerLinkInstant access to the full article PDF.39,95 €Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkoutFig. 1: The a-frame includes roles, high-impact behaviours, constraints and intervention pathways.The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.ReferencesCreutzig, F. et al. in Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change (eds Shukla, P. R. et al.) 503–612 (IPCC, Cambridge Univ. Press, 2022).Chater, N. & Loewenstein, G. Behav. Brain Sci. 46, e147 (2023).Article Google Scholar Anjum, G. & Aziz, M. Clim. Policy 26, 509–519 (2026).Article Google Scholar Nielsen, K. S. et al. Nat. Clim. Change 14, 322–330 (2024).Article Google Scholar Nielsen, K. S., Nicholas, K. A., Creutzig, F., Dietz, T. & Stern, P. C. Nat. Energy 6, 1011–1016 (2021).Article Google Scholar Garnett, E. E. & Balmford, A. Nat. Hum. Behav. 6, 319–321 (2022).Article Google Scholar Capstick, S. & Whitmarsh, L. in The Climate Book (ed. Thunberg, G.) 328–330 (Penguin Random House, 2022).Ostrom, E. Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1990).Albarracín, D., Fayaz-Farkhad, B. & Granados Samayoa, J. A. Nat. Rev. Psychol. 3, 377–392 (2024).Article Google Scholar Mattioli, G., Roberts, C., Steinberger, J. K. & Brown, A. Energy Res. Soc. Sci. 66, 101486 (2020).Article Google Scholar Kukowski, C. A. & Garnett, E. E. Nat. Clim. Change 14, 2–4 (2024).Article Google Scholar Green, F. & Healy, N. One Earth 5, 635–649 (2022).Article Google Scholar Giddens, A. The Constitution of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration (Univ. of California Press, 1984).Huttunen, S. et al. Energy Res. Soc. Sci. 76, 102067 (2021).Article Google Scholar O’Brien, K. & Sygna, L. in Proc. Transformation in a Changing Climate 16–23 (Univ. of Oslo, 2013).Download referencesAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsDepartment of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKCharlotte A. Kukowski & Sander van der LindenDepartment of Management, Society and Communication, Copenhagen Business School, Frederiksberg, DenmarkKristian S. NielsenSchool of Applied Psychology, University of Applied Sciences, Zürich, SwitzerlandSwen J. KühneForce of Nature, London, UKClover HoganDepartment of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UKLorraine WhitmarshIndependent researcher, Düsseldorf, GermanyGrit ZwingenbergerPotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, GermanyFelix CreutzigBennett Institute for Innovation and Policy Acceleration, University of Sussex Business School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UKFelix CreutzigLund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS), Lund University, Lund, SwedenKimberly A. NicholasAuthorsCharlotte A. KukowskiView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarKristian S. NielsenView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarSwen J. KühneView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarClover HoganView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarSander van der LindenView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarLorraine WhitmarshView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarGrit ZwingenbergerView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarFelix CreutzigView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarKimberly A. NicholasView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCorresponding authorCorrespondence to Charlotte A. Kukowski.Ethics declarationsCompeting interestsThe authors declare no competing interests.Rights and permissionsReprints and permissionsAbout this article