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Water Pollution & Behavior Change

Human beings and the ecosystems we inhabit rely on clean water. This Solution Search contest focuses on unearthing existing and successful solutions that are reducing water pollution by changing behaviors. 

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Entry Deadline Has Passed. This contest has unearthed 100 solutions from 33 countries.  

Descarga Información en Español 

Reducing water pollution is critical for protecting aquatic life, ensuring public health, achieving social justice, and fomenting a resilient and thriving economy. Currently, many types of contaminants run through the world’s rivers, streams, basins and oceans, including synthetic chemicals, plastics, nitrates and fecal coliform. Behind each of these different sources lies a chain of people who engage in actions that lead up to the pollution we see today.

Some of these behaviors include littering, dumping raw sewage into fields, depositing industrial waste into waterways, and using and overusing synthetic fertilizers (more examples in the FAQs below). Therefore, solving water pollution will require changing those behaviors that are contributing to it. To achieve this, the traditional tools of information, rules and regulations and financial incentives must be complemented with strategies rooted in behavioral science, including emotional appeals, social influences and choice architecture.

Fortunately, solutions that aim to do just this are already emerging worldwide. This Solution Search is designed to surface, spotlight and accelerate the most promising of these approaches.

We are asking organizations worldwide: How have you promoted behaviors that reduce water pollution?

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Contest Details & Prizes

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Environmental Justice Prize

A prize of $10,000 awarded to the best entry that achieves progress on environmental justice and addresses the disproportionate impact of water pollution on communities of color, indigenous groups, and marginalized communities.
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Youth Prize

A prize of $10,000 awarded to the best entry that is led by youth (25 years or younger) and highlights the role of young people in powering solutions to water pollution.
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Finalist

All finalists attend a capacity-building workshop and awards ceremony with some of the biggest names in conservation, development and behavioral science.
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Grand Prize

Two prizes of $25,000 awarded to the Judges' Choice (selected by our panel) and People's Choice (recipient of most votes).
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Early Entrant Prize

A prize of $5,000 awarded to the best entry received by November 30th, 2020 at 8pm EST.

Solutions Map

Who will judge this contest?

Danni Washington
Danni Washington
TV Host and Co-Founder
The Big Blue and You
Dee Caffari
Dee Caffari
Sailor and Ocean Advocate
Dilip Soman
Dilip Soman
Author, The Last Mile; Director, Behavioural Economics in Action Research Centre
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Jennifer Morris
Jennifer Morris
Chief Executive Officer
The Nature Conservancy
Joseph Runzo-Inada
Joseph Runzo-Inada
Chief Resilience Officer & Head of Strategic Planning
City of Toyama, Japan
Juan Camilo Cárdenas
Juan Camilo Cárdenas
Associate Professor, Department of Economics
Universidad de los Andes
Kacky Andrews
Kacky Andrews
Chief of Strategy
Ocean Conservancy
Michelle C
Michelle Carnevale
Director
11th Hour Racing
Mustafa Santiago Ali
Mustafa Santiago Ali
Vice President, Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization
National Wildlife Federation
Rocky
Rocky Sanchez Tirona
Vice President, Philippines
Rare
Sasha Koo-Oshima
Sasha Koo-Oshima
Deputy Director, Land and Water Division
UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Sergio Campos
Sergio Campos
Chief, Water and Sanitation Division
The Inter-American Development Bank
Susan Ruffo
Susan Ruffo
Senior Advisor
The Circulate Initiative
Tamara
Tamara Toles O’Laughlin
North America Director
350.org
wallace j
Wallace J Nichols
Scientist, Activist, Author
Blue Mind

Contest Partners

11th hour racing
The Circulate Initiative logo.
IDB 2
Lonely Whale
The Nature Conservancy
OC
Rare logo

Technical Partners

Chester Zoo
Evidn logo.
Imagine h20
RCN
Sanergy logo
Surfrider
water loop

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a “behavior”?

Distinguishing between beliefs, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors is important.

Beliefs are what you know or accept to be true. Attitudes are what you think is good or bad. Intentions are what you plan or intend to do, and behaviors are what you actually do.

Behavior change may involve changing people’s beliefs, attitudes or intentions, but the end result of what people end up doing (or not doing) is what we are interested in most.   

What are some examples of actors and behaviors related to the water pollution challenge?

Here are some examples of how you might think of your intervention in terms of behaviors and actors. 

Example Behavior Actor Pairs:

Please note that this list is not exhaustive of all the possible actors or behaviors that can be submitted to this contest.

Actor Behavior
Fishers Stop discarding fishing gear into the ocean
Homeowner Install microplastic filter on washing machine
Food industry managers Only provide plastic to-go utensils upon request
Clothing producers Reduce the use of materials that release toxic byproducts into water
Trash / Wastewater Collectors Take sewage/trash to collection site rather than dumping elsewhere

How do I know which behavior lever I am utilizing?

The behavior levers oftentimes work together, so there may be multiple levers at play in your intervention. For example, your program may be motivating people to abide by an anti-littering law (rules and regulations) by making it socially unacceptable to litter (social influences).

Explore behavior.rare.org to learn more about each lever or download our guide, Levers of Behavior Change: Principles and Strategies.

Who is eligible to enter the Solution Search contest?

Any organization or institution worldwide is eligible (e.g. city government, business, non-profit, university, etc.). Individuals are not eligible to enter.

For further questions, contact info@solutionsearch.org

What is the timeline for this contest?

October 8, 2020: Open for entries 
November 30, 2020: Deadline to submit for early entry prize  
January 10, 2021: Entry deadline 
April 2021: Top 10 finalists announced 
May 2021: Voting period begins 
June 2021: Voting period closes 

Finalist workshops, networking events, and summit may take place in August- September 2021. Final dates to be determined.

Are early entrants eligible to win all the prizes offered this year?

Yes! In addition to the $5,000 early entrant prize, early entrants are also eligible to win the two Grand Prizes, the Environmental Justice Prize, and the Youth Prize.

Who can I contact for more information or with questions?

You can reach the Solution Search team at info@solutionsearch.org with any questions or concerns.

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