Structural Analysis of Environmental Literacy of Urban Residents in China—Based on the Questionnaire Survey of Qingdao Residents

Abstract

Residents’ environmental literacy is the basis of sustainable development. The structure of environmental literacy and the interaction among its elements is a very important topic, which has been rarely studied. By using the literature analysis method to analyze the existing research of scholars, it can be concluded that the connotation of environmental literacy is composed of environmental knowledge, environmental awareness, and environmental behavior. The environmental literacy and structure of Qingdao residents can be measured by questionnaire survey. It has been found through a more in-depth structural analysis that environmental knowledge and environmental awareness will influence but cannot decide environmental behavior all by themselves; high-level environmental knowledge and high environmental awareness do not necessarily lead to a high-level environmental behavior but low-level environmental knowledge and low environmental awareness almost inevitably lead to a low-level environmental behavior. This finding is of great value for the government to formulate environmental policies scientifically, carry out environmental education more effectively, comprehensively improve residents’ environmental literacy and improve their environmental behavior.