An Investigation of Pro-Environmental Behaviour and Sustainable Development in Malaysia

Mohd Yusoff Yusliza,Maurizio Massaro,Nik Afzan Nik Sarah Athirah,Safiek Mokhlis,Thurasamy Ramayah,Raden Aswin Rahadi,Zikri Muhammad,Amirudin Amirudin,Jumadil Saputra,Francesca Dal Mas

doi:10.3390/su12177083

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the role of environmental commitment, environmental consciousness, green lifestyle, and green self-efficacy in influencing pro-environmental behaviour. Data were obtained through a survey of 72 students at one of the training centers in Malaysia. The hypothesized relationships were tested using partial least squares (PLS) methodology. Results showed that environmental commitment, environmental consciousness, green lifestyle, and green self-efficacy positively influenced pro-environmental behaviour, thereby providing new insights to existing literature on environmental sustainability. The results may be used by educational institutions, the government, and private agencies to strengthen students’ knowledge, attitude, and behaviour that support environment-based education. The scope of the study was limited to students at a training center, so the results may not be generalizable to different settings. Another limitation was that the study used limited contextual elements. The novelty of this study is that it examined the role of environmental commitment, environmental consciousness, green lifestyle, and green self-efficacy as determinants of pro-environmental behaviour among students in an educational setting in Malaysia.

Highlights

This study examined the direct influence of environmental commitment, environmental consciousness, green lifestyle, and green self-efficacy on pro-environmental behaviour
This study investigated whether students’ pro-environmental behaviour stemmed from their initiatives or was enforced through the training centre’ rules and regulations
We justify the framework and bridge prior work examining the relationship between environmental commitment, environmental consciousness, green lifestyle, green self-efficacy, and pro-environmental behaviour into a cohesive model

Summary

Introduction

The main goal of sustainable development (SD) is to sustain a promising future and the planet. To this end, national and international authorities have issued pertinent regulations. Goal 12 of the 2030 Agenda of SD mentions the need to create awareness of SD among people around the world and promote healthy lifestyle [3]. Despite these attempts, there have been in recent years increasing environmental issues such as environmental contaminations (air, water, and land resources), climate change, and depletion of natural resources. One of the noted major causes is human behaviours [4,5]

Objectives

Results

Conclusion