Dimensions Of Environmental Concern Research Articles

COVID-related environmental concerns and aspirations for a greener, pandemic-proof future: Prospect for civil-society led change for sustainability

The COVID-19 pandemic had an enormous impact in terms of lives lost and socio-economic decline but also highlighted issues regarding environmental sustainability. However, few studies have investigated COVID-19-related environmental perceptions. We thus assessed (i) people's concerns about the pandemic's adverse global environmental impacts and (ii) their aspirations for a greener, pandemic-proof, post-COVID future in a representative survey in New Zealand using two specifically designed measures. We found moderate to high COVID-related environmental concern (mean rating = 6.79 on a 10-point scale) and greener post-COVID world aspirations (mean rating = 7.01 on a 10-point scale). Concern and aspirations were unexpectedly evident even among those with low pro-environmental predispositions (e.g. those with low general environmental concern, low recycling frequency, and zero past-5-year environmental actions) – suggesting a pandemic-induced change among the previously unconcerned. Pre-existing pro-environmental dispositions and behaviours were not consistently associated with higher ratings in our measures as hypothesised. Demographic variables had limited influence, while experiences of financial and mental health impacts due to COVID-19 did not affect our measures – suggesting that the pandemic gave rise to new dimensions of environmental concern and aspirations for change that were experienced by most in society. While these concerns and aspirations offer a platform for society-led change, meaningful change can only occur with political will among governments to minimise the present pandemic's environmental impacts, sustain environmentally beneficial practices that occurred during lockdowns, and prevent future zoonotic epidemics and pandemics by steering and supporting environmental investments that lead to changes to travel behaviour, diet, farming practices, and treatment of animals.

Effects of Outdoor Recreation Participation and Interpretation

We conducted a field experiment in Thailand to evaluate effects of appreciative and mechanized forms of recreation and interpretation on environmental concerns of park visitors. Research participants were randomly assigned to one of eight ex-perimental conditions defined by recreation type (appreciative vs. mechanized), recreation activity (birdwatching, nature photography, motorcycling, and motor boating) nested within recreation type, and interpretation (interpretation provid-ed vs. not provided). We measured three dimensions of environmental concern: specific environmental concern (SEC), worldwide environmental concern (WEC), and general environmental behavior (GEB). Appreciative activity participants and participants who received interpretation had significantly higher SEC scores than those who participated in mechanized activities and those who did not receive interpretation. Interpretation experiences elevated WEC and GEB, with the effect being more substantial among participants who participated in mechanized rec-reation activities.

Environmental Concern and Public Attitudes Toward Marine Life in Coastal China

ABSTRACT The relationship between people’s concern for the environment and their attitudes toward marine life remains ambiguous, especially in developing countries such as China. This paper reports results from an online survey (n = 500) conducted in 22 Chinese coastal cities regarding the relationship between public attitudes toward marine life and environmental concern, as well as environment-related behavior. The New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale was used to assess respondents’ environmental concern. Attitudes toward marine life protection were measured using a revised version of the Animal Attitude Scale (AAS). Including some questions on demographics and environment-related behaviors and preferences, the survey also aimed to investigate human–marine life interactions in coastal Chinese society. The data revealed that people living in coastal China mostly endorsed a pro-ecological worldview, but they were rather passive in environmental public participation. All five dimensions of environmental concern were positively correlated with marine life attitude and associated with selected AAS content categories (human moral dominance, food, medical research, and hunting/fishing) to varying degrees. Anti-anthropocentrism was found to be the most important dimension of NEP in understanding marine life protection and the use of marine life. It was also discovered that some environment-related behaviors, such as beach visits, NGO membership/donations, and transportation preferences, were predictors of attitudes toward marine life and marine life usage. The findings from this study highlight three significant concepts in shaping public perception of marine life: the recognition of human domination, moderation, and potential environmental risks.

Social Capital’s Influence on Environmental Concern in China: An Analysis of the 2010 Chinese General Social Survey

This study examines the ways in which social capital influences people’s environmental concern in China. Using data obtained from the 2010 Chinese General Social Survey, we measure social capital through social networks and trust. We find that the ways people think about and act toward others influence the ways they think about and act toward the environment. The structural equation modeling results suggest that one’s connections with others, including socializing with relatives and friends as well as general social networking, are significantly and positively related to various dimensions of environmental concern. Greater trust is positively related to one’s willingness to make sacrifices for the benefit of the environment but is also negatively related to perceived dangerousness of pollution. Our findings highlight the value of social capital in promoting environmental concern. We discuss these findings in the context of existing literature, and propose policy implications and suggest directions for future research.

Attitudes and behavioral intentions to protect the environment: How consistent is the structure of environmental concern in cross-national comparison?

This article deals with the consistency of the attitudinal structure of environmental concern in cross-national comparison using structural equation models (SEM) with International Social Survey Program (ISSP) 2010 data. Multiple group confirmatory factor analysis is used to explore measurement invariance and to test the cross-national consistency of the relationship between environmental attitudes and the willingness to sacrifice for environmental protection (which can be interpreted as a behavioral intention). Both are referred to as being dimensions of environmental concern. Multilevel SEM is conducted to explain country differences regarding levels of consistency between the two dimensions of environmental concern. The results of the multiple group confirmatory factor analysis show that it is possible to reach metric measurement invariance for both dimensions of environmental concern. Further, the consistency (i.e., the strength of statistical association) between these two dimensions differs considerably throughout the world. Multilevel SEM analysis shows that the consistency is associated with national wealth; that is, the higher the national wealth, the stronger the relationship between the two dimensions of environmental concern. Thus, in poor countries, there is only a weak link between environmental attitudes and behavioral intentions to protect the environment. In contrast, in wealthy countries, environmental attitudes and environmental behavioral intentions form a highly consistent cluster of environmental concern.

From thinking green to buying green: consumer motivation makes the difference

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the need for appropriate green marketing communication strategies to close the gap between consumers’ strong environmental concerns and weak engagement in sustainable behaviors. In doing so, our overarching goal is to provide new direction for creating targeted marketing communication strategies that will more effectively motivate consumer purchasing of green products and services. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a survey approach to collect data and regression analysis to test our hypotheses. Findings The findings suggest that demographic variables (gender, ethnicity and age) as well as concern for waste, concern for health and concern for environmental technology influence five different categories of sustainable behaviors. Research limitations/implications The results suggest that future studies should consider multiple dimensions of environmental concern because each dimension has a different impact on sustainable behaviors. Practical implications The findings contribute to the continued development of a green consumer profile and highlight the need for marketers to carefully select appropriate dimensions of environmental concern to emphasize in their communication strategies. Results also reinforce the need to consider demographics in targeted communications. Originality/value This study considers the impact of different dimensions of environmental concern and demographic variables on different types of sustainable behaviors.

Factors affecting the relationship between environmental concern and behaviors

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to understand the mediating factors affecting the relationship between environmental concerns and sustainable behaviors.Design/methodology/approach– The authors survey 467 respondents and use a structural equation modeling approach to assess environmental involvement and willingness to pay more for green products as mediating variables between a multi-dimensional measure of environmental concern and sustainable behaviors.Findings– The findings suggest that environmental involvement and willingness to pay more for green products mediate the relationship between environmental concern and sustainable behaviors. But of the three dimensions of environmental concern, only concern for energy is statistically significant in the model.Research limitations/implications– The results empirically validate the multi-dimensionality of the environmental concern construct and its relationship with consumers’ sustainable behaviors. Both involvement and willingness to pay more for an environmentally friendly product play an important role in linking environmental concern to actionable behaviors.Practical implications– To reach green consumers who are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products and ultimately engage in sustainable behaviors, marketers should target those consumers who are most concerned with energy and more involved with the environment.Originality/value– This paper is the first to study the gap between environmental concern and sustainable behaviors by utilizing involvement and willingness to pay more for an environmentally friendly product as mediators. Results provide critical insight into this often elusive gap. The authors also fill an important gap in the literature by including psychological factors driving consumers’ willingness to pay more for green products.

Review of Living in Denial: Climate Change, Emotions, and Everyday Life by Kari Norgaard and The Love of Nature and the End of the World: The Unspoken Dimensions of Environmental Concern by Shierry Nicholsen

Review of <i>Living in Denial: Climate Change, Emotions, and Everyday Life</i> by Kari Norgaard and <i>The Love of Nature and the End of the World: The Unspoken Dimensions of Environmental Concern</i> by Shierry Nicholsen

Environmental Concern in Cross‐National Perspective: The Effects of Affluence, Environmental Degradation, and World Society*

ObjectiveThis study assesses competing macro‐level explanations of national‐level environmental concern. Drawing on previous research, we test the effects of national affluence, environmental degradation, and world society integration on various dimensions of environmental concern.MethodWe utilize factor analysis to separate distinct dimensions of concern. Then, we estimate bivariate correlations using data from the latest (fifth) wave of the World Values Survey (WVS) and a multivariate panel regression model using data from four WVS waves (1990–2008).ResultsBivariate correlations reveal inconsistent relationships across the various dimensions of environmental concern. The panel analysis suggests that environmental degradation is positively associated with environmental concern expressed as willingness to pay higher taxes, affluence is either negatively or not associated, and international nongovernmental organizations are not significantly associated.ConclusionEnvironmental conditions significantly influence levels of environmental concern around the world. It should not be assumed that affluence is the determining factor in global environmental concern.

The Love of Nature and the End of the World – The Unspoken Dimensions of Environmental Concern

The Love of Nature and the End of the World – The Unspoken Dimensions of Environmental Concern

The Love of Nature and the End of the World –The Unspoken Dimensions of Environmental Concern

The Love of Nature and the End of the World –The Unspoken Dimensions of Environmental Concern

Green issues: Dimensions of environmental concern

Current concern for the environment is readily observed in consumer polls and lifestyles, in political campaigns, in the media, and in product offerings and marketing strategies. The academic literature, however, has not yet reflected this popular movement. Our study identifies green issues—those dimensions of environmental concern currently viewed as important by consumers. We then discuss relationships between consumers' perceptions of green issues and marketing strategies. Results of this research are of interest to consumer behavior and marketing researchers, marketing managers, and public policy-makers at a time when consumers are increasingly aware of environmental problems.

Dimensions of Environmental Concern: Factor Structure, Correlates, and Implications for Research

Dimensions of Environmental Concern: Factor Structure, Correlates, and Implications for Research