The impact of digital technology and technological innovation on environmental attitudes——insights from a cross-country survey

Abstract

ABSTRACT The evolving landscape of digital technologies and technological innovations is reshaping our relationship with the environment. While empirical studies at the micro level have extensively examined the separate impacts of these advancements on environmental attitudes, a significant gap persists in understanding their collective influence at the macro level. To address this gap, our study investigates the impact of digital technology and technological innovation on environmental attitudes using data from 44,622 surveys across 28 countries, sourced from the International Social Survey Program. Our analysis reveals that country-level digital technology and technological innovation significantly influence individuals’ environmental attitudes. At the individual level, factors such as air pollution, the quality of the individual’s living environment, and education level play crucial roles in shaping these attitudes. Additionally, public trust in the media plays a significant moderating role in the relationship between digital technology and environmental attitudes. Our research contributes to the literature by simultaneously examining these factors at both individual and national levels. To gain citizens’ attitudes toward environmental protection, there is a need to strengthen the integration of technological innovation and environmental protection and to improve the authenticity of mass media materials while focusing on environmental governance.