Navigating complexity: A guide and tools for interdisciplinary research on lower-carbon practices

Lower-carbon practices are socially complex-something that can challenge traditional disciplinary approaches. Researchers can find single disciplines inadequate in capturing the range of factors affecting how different groups engage with these practices. The present study addresses a critical gap in climate research methodology by providing practical tools that enable researchers to move beyond theoretical silos towards interdisciplinary analysis. It presents several inter-connected contributions: a factor landscape mapping the factors shaping responses to three key lower-carbon practices, a compilation of relevant theoretical approaches, and guidance on interdisciplinary research processes. These contributions enable more nuanced, context-sensitive research that captures the social complexity of lower-carbon practices-a critical step towards supporting effective climate action across diverse social systems.