Determining social-psychological drivers of Texas Gulf Coast homeowners’ intention to implement private green infrastructure practices

Abstract

Green infrastructure (GI) has been demonstrated to be an efficient flood mitigation measure and an effective approach for building community resilience, especially in the context of climate change. Drawing on Protection Motivation Theory, this study offers insight into the factors influencing residents' intention to implement individual GI practices by homeowners along the Texas Gulf Coast. The GI practices examined included the potential installation of (1) green roofs, (2) rain barrels, (3) rain gardens, (4) permeable pavement, and (5) tree protection and planting. Our findings revealed that homeowners expressed little interest in adopting GI practices owing to the lack of information, absence of incentives, and guidance on how to implement GI practices. Moreover, the findings from our modeling confirmed that perceptions of the effectiveness and cost of GI had the strongest influence on respondents’ intention to implement GI. Other significant indicators such as threat appraisal, reliance on public flood protection, perceived co-benefits, age, and the number of children varied with specific GI practices. These findings provide valuable information for city policymakers and planners in coastal regions concerning the promotion and development of GI that can meet the needs of their residents, provide the impetus for implementation, and in turn, contribute to community resilience.