Rural residents' climate change perceptions, personal experiences, and purchase intention–behavior gap in energy-saving refrigeration appliances in Southwest China

Abstract

In the context of climate change, energy-saving refrigeration appliances play an essential role in lowering carbon emissions. Based on survey data from interviews with rural residents in Chongqing, China, this study investigated residents' purchase intention, behavior, and intention–behavior gap with respect to energy-saving refrigeration appliances, including air conditioners and refrigerators. Econometric models were employed to identify the gap and explore its influencing factors from the aspects of rural residents' climate change perceptions and personal experiences. The results demonstrate that there is an intention–behavior gap. Among the rural residents interviewed, approximately 84.19% had intention, but only 20.99% exhibited consistent behavior. The findings indicate that the influencing factors on rural residents' purchase intention and actual behavior are different. One's perception of the possibility of climate change and the self-efficacy and family efficacy of climate change adaptation positively promote his or her intention, behavior, and intention–behavior conversion. However, one's perception of inefficacy and affective impression hinder intention, behavior, and intention–behavior conversion. Cost perception impedes behavior and intention–behavior consistency, while a broad and direct perception of relationships between climate change and energy use behavior can facilitate them, although this perception fails to influence intention. Climate hazards suffered and experiences of climate change adaptation can promote intention but hinder actual behavior, resulting in negative intention–behavior consistency. Based on these findings, some effective policy implications were put forward to enhance intention–behavior transformation and sustainable household carbon reduction in relation to energy-saving refrigeration appliances.