Abstract

Despite the necessity of multi-level efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, detailed discussions on how micro-level research approaches can contribute to carbon neutrality remain insufficient. This study presents an integrated perspective to overcome the fragmentation of existing research and establish the connection between carbon neutrality policy goals and micro-level research. The research methodology involved conducting a narrative literature review of domestic literature across adjacent fields including psychological science, communication studies, environmental policy, and environmental sociology. The analysis revealed unique features of each academic field. Psychological science focused on individual internal factors, perceptions, and behavioral intentions. Communication research addressed practical topics combined with media effects. Micro-level approaches in environmental policy showed major trends in environmental education, policy acceptance, large-scale perception surveys, and group-specific perception studies. As a result, the study defined the characteristics of micro-level research that can contribute to carbon neutrality by categorizing them into cognitive, behavioral, and political dimensions, and proposed future research directions. Additionally, in the sense of complementing the methodological individualism of psychological science research, we introduced social practice theory, which understands routine human behaviors as social practices. At a time when interdisciplinary cooperation is crucial for responding to climate crisis, the practical and theoretical expansion efforts of micro-level research are expected to play a role in explaining and narrowing the gap between carbon neutrality norms and behaviors.