Rainforest by tauntingpanda/Flickr.
Scientific knowledge alone isn't enough to save the planet - we must also act on that knowledge and radically change our behaviour, according to the authors of an international study. The study, carried out by researchers from The Australian National University and colleagues in Germany, the UK and the USA, suggests that the greatest barrier to sustainability no longer lies in a lack of knowledge about environmental problems, but rather a failure to translate that knowledge into action. A co-author of the study, Robert Dyball from the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society, said that sustainability demands urgent and real changes in human behaviour. While more knowledge is useful, the focus needs to be on how and when humans willingly change their behaviour based on what they know. "Human actions and behaviours, both by individuals and societies, are the greatest cause of ecological damage and the ongoing degradation of the biosphere. We know what we need to do - it's now time to 'just do it'," Dyball said. "Our study has identified five key priority areas that can help humans change their behaviour and increase sustainability.
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