Engaging ordinary people in sustainability transition: introducing elasticity and plasticity model for social change

Joining between engineering and social sciences approaches, this paper introduces a model for social change, based on concepts of elasticity and plasticity of sustainability behaviour to engage the public in sustainability transition and achieve a better quality of life. The paper discusses how successful transition to renewable energy (RE) system can impact individual's quality of life and social development, and how to encourage ordinary people to engage in energy transition through daily sustainability behaviour. The paper also discusses the social strategies that lead community to sustainability, the RE indicators and the impact of RE on social behaviour. Eventually, some actions are suggested as solutions if applied can drive the society to the appropriate sustainability level. The focus area is Palestine, but the model can apply elsewhere. The data used were both primary and secondary data.