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Summary
UXers are decision architects, guiding billions of interactions in our products every day. We have the power to shape user behavior in ways that add up to material carbon impact, while practicing inclusive design to reach a broader audience. As UXers, we also have the mandate to work at the intersection of user needs and business needs, which gives us the opportunity to connect climate concerns on both sides—even at companies that aren’t focused on climate solutions. Join panelists Laura Palotie, Steve Isley, Nancy Tsang, and moderator Mike Brzozowski in this installment of our ongoing Climate UX discussion series.
Key Insights
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UX professionals act as decision architects, influencing billions of user interactions that have real climate impacts.
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Sustainability should be seen as a continuous, multi-attribute concept rather than a binary classification.
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Engaging users on sustainability is most effective by emphasizing immediate co-benefits such as cost savings or time efficiency.
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Design must address user skepticism by using clear, concrete language and trusted certifications with progressive disclosure.
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Many users desire sustainable options but lack awareness, creating opportunities for UX to bridge this gap.
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Aligning climate goals with business metrics can unlock support from leadership if framed as meeting growing customer demand.
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Circular economy principles present a long-term sustainability opportunity that challenges traditional consumption models.
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Visual design elements (e.g., icons) and clear messaging content must work symbiotically to communicate sustainability effectively.
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Overcoming anxiety and resistance to change requires positive, empowering language avoiding alarmism or guilt-tripping.
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Internal advocacy for climate features succeeds when pitched in business terms and supported by data-driven research.
Notable Quotes
"We mediate billions of decisions and interactions in our products every day, many of which have real world climate impact."
"Sustainability is multi-attribute, continuous, temporal, and geographic — it’s not a simple yes or no."
"Just educating people isn’t enough to change behaviors; immediate tangible benefits motivate more effectively."
"Greenwashing has caused people to distrust terms like eco-friendly and sustainable, so clarity and trust are crucial."
"People don’t like being told what to do or what to give up regarding climate change."
"Sustainability is like health — different people have different definitions based on their values."
"Helping people be more sustainable is better than trying to define what a sustainable product is."
"Many hotels are incentivized to reduce resource use not only for climate but for operational cost savings."
"It’s valuable to pitch sustainability initiatives in terms of business opportunity to get leadership buy-in."
"Visual signs like leaves or badges can signal sustainability without needing explicit textual claims."
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