What the study found
Anticipated regret was associated with a higher stated willingness to adopt low-carbon technologies (LCTs), while hyperbolic discounting, or present-biased preferences that give more weight to immediate outcomes than future ones, was associated with lower willingness to adopt them.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say the findings may help increase LCT uptake and support climate change mitigation, and they suggest nudges should emphasize immediate benefits such as comfort and social status rather than long-term savings.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used a survey of 1,355 respondents in the UK to examine the role of discounting and a behavioural nudge based on anticipated regret in households’ stated decisions to adopt LCTs. They analyzed the responses with logit and count data models and also examined differences by gender and age.
What worked and what didn't
Invoking anticipated regret increased willingness to adopt LCTs by about 4-12%, depending on the technology, and this corresponded to expected greenhouse gas emissions reductions of about 1-11%. Respondents with hyperbolic discounting reported a 3-7% lower willingness to adopt LCTs than patient respondents.
What to keep in mind
The abstract describes stated decisions and survey responses, not actual adoption behavior. It also does not provide detailed limitations beyond noting that results were examined by gender and age and that the findings come from a UK sample.
Key points
- A UK survey of 1,355 respondents examined willingness to adopt low-carbon technologies.
- Anticipated regret was linked to a 4-12% increase in stated willingness to adopt, depending on the technology.
- Hyperbolic discounting, a present-biased preference pattern, was linked to a 3-7% lower willingness to adopt.
- The abstract reports expected greenhouse gas emissions reductions of about 1-11% when anticipated regret is invoked.
- The authors suggest nudges should stress immediate benefits such as comfort and social status.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Anticipated regret and discounting shape households’ LCT adoption intentions
- Authors:
- Luca Mariani, Alberto Longo, Caterina Brandoni
- Institutions:
- Queen's University Belfast, University of Perugia, University of Ulster, Centre for Sustainable Energy
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-02
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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