We are proud to announce that Sarah Ahmed Elbakry, Assistant Lecturer of Economics at the British University in Egypt (BUE), has received a prestigious research grant from the DAAD as part of the BaSEF project. This DAAD-funded collaboration brings together the British University in Egypt, The American University in Cairo, and The University of Cologne to explore innovative solutions to critical environmental challenges.

As part of her PhD research, Sarah conducted both laboratory and field experiments at BUE to investigate the effects of communicating negatively valenced climate change information on energy conservation behavior and environmental attitudes. Her study resulted in a research paper that was accepted for publication on January 25th, 2024.

The research, which involved 194 participants, tested how individuals respond to an experimental Pro-Environmental Behavior Task (PEBT) and a follow-up attitudinal questionnaire after being exposed to climate change information. The results demonstrated that information evoking negative environmental emotions can effectively promote energy-saving behaviors.

The social enterprise impact of this research is significant. By providing evidence on the effectiveness of behaviorally informed environmental policies, this study directly contributes to Egypt’s Vision 2030. The findings offer critical insights for policymakers, showing how targeted communication strategies can drive sustainable energy consumption behavior. This aligns with SDG #12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG #13 (Climate Action), furthering global and national sustainability goals.

The project has been made possible thanks to the generous funding and support of the DAAD under the BaSEF project, fostering impactful academic collaborations between institutions.