World Health Day 2026
Together for Health. Stand with Science.
How behaviour change science is helping people build healthier lives through everyday journeys
A global call to stand with science
World Health Day 2026, observed on 7 April, calls on people everywhere to stand with science. Under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science”, this year’s observance launches a year-long campaign celebrating the power of scientific collaboration to protect health.
The campaign invites governments, scientists, health workers, partners and the public to engage with evidence, facts, and science-based guidance; rebuild trust in science and public health; and support science-led solutions for a healthier future.
Source: WHO – World Health Day 2026
Behaviour change science in action
One of the most exciting applications of behaviour change science is in active travel — helping people walk, cycle and use public transport as part of their daily routine. When everyday journeys become physical activity, health improves without anyone needing to find extra time in their day.
The science behind this approach is well established within BetterPoints active and sustainable travel programmes. These programmes draw on more than 40 recognised Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs), coded to the Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy (BCTTv.1) and the updated Behaviour Change Techniques Ontology (part of the Behaviour Change Intervention Ontology (BCIO), 2023). This coding is mapped through the Theories and Techniques Tool to Mechanisms of Action, allowing teams to test different approaches to optimising change, all underpinned by established theories.
The most effective programmes go beyond apps and technology. They are complex behaviour change interventions — integrated with local events and services, interacting with communications and campaigns from different stakeholders in businesses and the community, and dynamically adapted based on observed behavioural responses and real-time data.
The science of rewards
The science of shaping behaviour through rewards has a long history in psychology. Recent systematic reviews have shown incentives and gamification to be effective in promoting physical activity behaviour change. Incentives are critical to encouraging behaviour change – people won’t do something new if there isn’t a compelling reason for it.
In practice, this means giving people tangible recognition for choosing to travel actively. In BetterPoints UK programmes, participants earn a rewards currency – BetterPoints – which can be accrued and exchanged for vouchers, for both national high-street names and local independent traders or donated to local and national charities.
The evidence
When this science is put into practice, the results speak for themselves. Programmes combining more than 40 BCTs with bespoke technology to baseline, stimulate and measure new behaviours have achieved an average 24 per cent reduction in short car journeys across nine trials. Outcomes range from inactive people losing seven stone; habitual drivers getting rid of their cars altogether
People finding health in everyday journeys
Behind the data are people who discovered that travelling actively made them feel healthier — without ever setting foot in a gym.
‘Knowing when I have hit my 150 minutes a week really helps me to know I have done something good for myself. Walking is definitely a way to help clear your mind and calm yourself. My whole mindset has changed.’ — Alicia, Hampshire
‘The app is an incentive to actually get me out the house. What started out as a 30 minute walk sometimes ends up with me being out for over two hours after bumping into other people and having a good old natter.’ — Nindy, South Lanarkshire
Small changes, big impact
Walking to school. Strolling into town. Choosing the bus. When behaviour change science is applied to everyday journeys, people who thought they could never fit exercise into their day discover that they already have. That is what standing with science looks like.
