The system needs to change but not me: Participatory systems mapping for climate change mitigation among high‐socio‐economic status individuals in the UK

Background Addressing the climate crisis requires both systemic transformation and individual behavioural change. This is particularly important among high socio‐economic status (SES) individuals, whose carbon‐intensive lifestyles contribute disproportionately to greenhouse gas emissions, and who are positioned as powerful agents of system change via their personal and professional networks. Therefore, this study adopts a novel systems perspective to comprehensively explore how high‐SES individuals in the UK perceive their roles in climate change mitigation and to identify opportunities for targeted interventions Methods Using participatory systems mapping and thematic analysis, the study engaged high‐SES participants ( N = 38) in three online workshops to co‐develop a systems map of carbon‐intensive behaviours across five domains: Food, Travel, Energy, Consumer Goods and Motivation. Results Findings revealed that high‐SES individuals often struggled to see themselves as agents of change within the system, with limited climate knowledge, low perceived personal impact and a tendency to deflect responsibility to governments, organizations or other social groups. Participants' preference for top‐down solutions often coexisted with a desire to maintain personal agency. Conclusion The study highlights the need for policy approaches that cultivate a sense of agency, urgency and pro‐environmental social norms to engage high‐SES individuals in meaningful climate action. Whilst educational initiatives, incentives and visible role models were identified as promising strategies, achieving transformative change will also require structural policies that make low‐carbon lifestyles not only accessible and rewarding but also culturally desirable among high‐SES populations.