The Rising of Green Society: Low-Carbon Consumption as a Result of Environmental Education in China

Jingrui Xu,Lie’En Weng,Zhujun Tao,Shuigen Hu

doi:10.29333/ejmste/85939

Abstract

This article analyzes the factors that influence low-carbon consumption of college students, with the purpose of guiding environmental education in Chinese universities. To that end, a theoretical framework is proposed on the basis of interviews with several groups incombination with literature analysis using grounded theory and empirical verification methods. The study finds that external environment changes, individual psychological awareness, individual living habit, product technology development and low-carbon consumption intention are positively related to low-carbon consumption patterns. Finally, this paper points out that cultivating environmental education concepts of college students should make full use of different policy tools and adhere to the following principles: the combination of various policies and measures, the participation of multiple stakeholders, the popularization of low-carbon concepts, the demonstration of governments, the effectiveness of mass media, clearly defined laws and regulations and informal system construction.

Highlights

Reducing carbon emissions, coping with climate change, and educating the public about desirable environmental behaviors are the focus of international community
The study finds that external environment changes, individual psychological awareness, individual living habit, product technology development and low-carbon consumption intention are positively related to low-carbon consumption patterns
By perceiving behaviors of reference group, people may change their own behaviors unconsciously, the external environment is of great significance for people to adapt to low-carbon consumption

Summary

Introduction

Reducing carbon emissions, coping with climate change, and educating the public about desirable environmental behaviors are the focus of international community. Faced with increasingly serious environmental problems around the world, the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment was held in 1972. It was the starting point of global environmental education campaigns. Environmental education has become necessary general knowledge for citizens, as well as common international responsibilities. In 2007, the UN Climate Change Conference held in Bali, Indonesia is a milestone that formulated the “Bali Roadmap” concerning how to combat climate change and played a positive role in moving the world towards a low-carbon economy. In the same year, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) set the theme of World Environment Day as “changing traditional concepts and promoting a low-carbon economy.”

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