IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i3p1824-d742691.html

Climate Change Beliefs, Personal Environmental Norms and Environmentally Conscious Behaviour Intention

Author

Listed:
  • Chamila R. Perera

    (Department of Management & Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Hassan Kalantari

    (Department of Management & Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Lester W. Johnson

    (Department of Management & Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia)

Abstract

Purpose—The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between climate change beliefs, personal environmental norms and environmentally conscious behaviour. This study also investigates how the relationship between climate change beliefs and environmentally conscious behaviour is mediated by environmental identity. Design/methodology/approach—A survey conducted online involving 564 Australians informs the findings. Data analysis is performed using AMOS, a structural equation modelling package. Findings—This study finds strong positive relationships between climate change beliefs, personal environmental norms and environmentally conscious behaviour. The relationship between climate change beliefs and environmentally conscious behaviour is partially mediated by environmental identity. In addition, this study also finds that the relationships between personnel environmental norms, and environmental identity and environmentally conscious behaviour are partially mediated by climate change beliefs. Further, both personal environmental norms and climate change beliefs play stronger roles than environmental identity in environmentally conscious behaviour. Originality—This study engages in a scholarly conversation which claims the predictability of personal environmental norms in environmentally conscious behaviour. It adds value by establishing boundary conditions to some conversations in the field of study that claim environmental identity can be a better predictor of environmentally conscious behaviour. Research implications and limitations—This study postulates an integrated framework of value, beliefs and norms and the norm activation model to investigate environmentally conscious behaviour. This study findings are limited to a survey which involved an Australian sample. Practical implications—This study provides valuable implications for environmentally conscious businesses and policy makers. This study stresses the importance of highlighting climate change beliefs to enhance increased environmentally conscious behaviour engagement. It is, however, strongly recommended to focus on personal environmental norms as well because they play a stronger role in environmentally conscious behaviour engagement than climate change beliefs and strengthen climate change beliefs. This is important especially when conversations on the adverse effects of climate change and strategies to combat them are clouded by some political debates.

Suggested Citation

  • Chamila R. Perera & Hassan Kalantari & Lester W. Johnson, 2022. "Climate Change Beliefs, Personal Environmental Norms and Environmentally Conscious Behaviour Intention," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1824-:d:742691
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/3/1824/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/3/1824/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Farrow, Katherine & Grolleau, Gilles & Ibanez, Lisette, 2017. "Social Norms and Pro-environmental Behavior: A Review of the Evidence," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 1-13.
    2. Michael K. Goodman & Julie Doyle & Nathan Farrell, 2020. "Practising everyday climate cultures: understanding the cultural politics of climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(1), pages 1-7, November.
    3. Blamey, Russell, 1998. "Contingent valuation and the activation of environmental norms," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 47-72, January.
    4. Aaron McCright & Riley Dunlap & Chenyang Xiao, 2013. "Perceived scientific agreement and support for government action on climate change in the USA," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 119(2), pages 511-518, July.
    5. Duarte, Paulo & Costa e Silva, Susana & Ferreira, Margarida Bernardo, 2018. "How convenient is it? Delivering online shopping convenience to enhance customer satisfaction and encourage e-WOM," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 161-169.
    6. George Cunningham & Brian P. McCullough & Shelby Hohensee, 2020. "Physical activity and climate change attitudes," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 61-74, March.
    7. Schwirplies, Claudia, 2018. "Citizens' Acceptance of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: A Survey in China, Germany, and the U.S," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 308-322.
    8. Minton, Ann P. & Rose, Randall L., 1997. "The Effects of Environmental Concern on Environmentally Friendly Consumer Behavior: An Exploratory Study," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 37-48, September.
    9. Stephanie J. Zawadzki & Thijs Bouman & Linda Steg & Vladimir Bojarskich & Perri B. Druen, 2020. "Translating climate beliefs into action in a changing political landscape," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 161(1), pages 21-42, July.
    10. Daniel Schwartz & George Loewenstein & Loreto Agüero-Gaete, 2020. "Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour through green identity labelling," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(9), pages 746-752, September.
    11. Matthew J. Hornsey & Emily A. Harris & Paul G. Bain & Kelly S. Fielding, 2016. "Meta-analyses of the determinants and outcomes of belief in climate change," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 6(6), pages 622-626, June.
    12. Stephanie Shepard & Hilary Boudet & Chad M. Zanocco & Lori A. Cramer & Bryan Tilt, 2018. "Community climate change beliefs, awareness, and actions in the wake of the September 2013 flooding in Boulder County, Colorado," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 8(3), pages 312-325, September.
    13. Birgitta Gatersleben & Niamh Murtagh & Wokje Abrahamse, 2014. "Values, identity and pro-environmental behaviour," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(4), pages 374-392, December.
    14. Graham Beattie & Yi Han & Andrea La Nauze, 2019. "Conservation Spillovers: The Effect of Rooftop Solar on Climate Change Beliefs," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 74(3), pages 1425-1451, November.
    15. Seol-A Kwon & Seoyong Kim & Jae Eun Lee, 2019. "Analyzing the Determinants of Individual Action on Climate Change by Specifying the Roles of Six Values in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-24, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Maduku, Daniel K., 2024. "How environmental concerns influence consumers’ anticipated emotions towards sustainable consumption: The moderating role of regulatory focus," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    2. Toshima Makoondlall-Chadee & Chandradeo Bokhoree, 2024. "Understanding the Influencing Factors of Pro-Environmental Behavior in the Hotel Sector of Mauritius Island," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-35, October.
    3. Sajjad, Aqsa & Zhang, Qingyu & Asmi, Fahad & Anwar, Muhammad Azfar & Bhatia, Meena, 2024. "Identifying the motivating factors to promote socially responsible consumption under circular economy: A perspective from norm activation theory," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    4. Zohra Ghali, 2025. "Determinants of ethically minded consumer behavior in relation to climate change: a cognitive hierarchal model perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 6225-6253, March.
    5. Radha Yadav & Dharmendra Kumar & Anil Kumar & Sunil Luthra, 2023. "How does anticipatory trauma reaction and climate‐friendly behaviour make an affect at the individual level? The role of social norms and self‐efficacy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4028-4045, November.
    6. Mashaal A. M. Saif & Nazimah Hussin & Maizaitulaidawati Md Husin & Ayed Alwadain & Ayon Chakraborty, 2022. "Determinants of the Intention to Adopt Digital-Only Banks in Malaysia: The Extension of Environmental Concern," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-32, September.
    7. Zhihong Meng & Saad Mahmood Bhatti & Rana Tahir Naveed & Sara kanwal & Mohammad Adnan, 2024. "Green sustainability in the hotel sector: The role of CSR, intrinsic green motivation, and personal environmental norms," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(6), pages 1-23, June.
    8. Aidil Syukri Shaari & Mohd Sofian Rosbi & Ernie Che Mid, 2024. "Pilot Study Analysis for Energy Conservation Behaviour Using Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) Theory in Malaysian Universities Perspective," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(14), pages 505-517, November.
    9. Meiling Yin & Hanna Choi & Eun-Ju Lee, 2022. "Can Climate Change Awaken Ecological Consciousness? A Neuroethical Approach to Green Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-17, November.
    10. Asep Marfu & Agung Purwanto & Nadiroh & Hafid Abbas & Bagus Sumargo & Septantri Shinta Wulandari & Daiman & Christin A. Malaihollo & Syakyakirti & David Tanubrata & Dewi Indah Pratiwi, 2025. "Psychological Factors Influencing Environmental Knowledge and their Impact on Indonesian Circular Economy Adoption," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(4), pages 3369-3399, August.
    11. Marek Matejun & Bożena Ewa Matusiak & Izabela Różańska-Bińczyk, 2024. "Employee Readiness for GHRM and Its Individual Antecedents: Instrumental and Change-Based Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-38, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Blankenberg, Ann-Kathrin & Alhusen, Harm, 2019. "On the determinants of pro-environmental behavior: A literature review and guide for the empirical economist," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 350, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics, revised 2019.
    2. Bago, Bence & Rand, David & Pennycook, Gordon, 2021. "Reasoning about climate change," IAST Working Papers 21-126, Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST).
    3. Farhidi, Faraz & Khiabani, Vahid, 2021. "The impact of social norms on cross-state energy regime changes," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    4. Phu Nguyen-Van & Anne Stenger & Tuyen Tiet, 2021. "Social incentive factors in interventions promoting sustainable behaviors: A meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(12), pages 1-27, December.
    5. Andrew G. Meyer, 2022. "Do economic conditions affect climate change beliefs and support for climate action? Evidence from the US in the wake of the Great Recession," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 60(1), pages 64-86, January.
    6. Adrienne R. Brown & Lawrence C. Hamilton, 2024. "Belief-neutral Versus Belief-linked Knowledge as Predictors of Climate-change Opinions," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, June.
    7. Maurizio Pugno & Francesco Sarracino, 2021. "Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation to protect the environment: correlational and causal evidence," Working Papers 2021-01, Universita' di Cassino, Dipartimento di Economia e Giurisprudenza.
    8. Murat Okumah & Julia Martin-Ortega & Paula Novo & Pippa J. Chapman, 2020. "Revisiting the Determinants of Pro-Environmental Behaviour to Inform Land Management Policy: A Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Model Application," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-33, April.
    9. Ting Liu & Nick Shryane & Mark Elliot, 2022. "Attitudes to climate change risk: classification of and transitions in the UK population between 2012 and 2020," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Dominik Bär & Stefan Feuerriegel & Ting Li & Markus Weinmann, 2023. "Message framing to promote solar panels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    11. Ariyawardana, Anoma & Lim-Camacho, Lilly & Crimp, Steven & Wellington, Michael & Somogyi, Simon, 2018. "Consumer Response to Climate Adaptation Strategies in the Food Sector: An Australian Scenario," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 383-393.
    12. Alzubaidi, Hawazin & Slade, Emma L. & Dwivedi, Yogesh K., 2021. "Examining antecedents of consumers’ pro-environmental behaviours: TPB extended with materialism and innovativeness," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 685-699.
    13. Heinz Welsch, 2024. "Are National Climate Change Mitigation Pledges Shaped by Citizens' Climate Action Preferences? Evidence from Globally Representative Data," Working Papers V-445-24, University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics, revised Jul 2024.
    14. Bojana Većkalov & Sandra J. Geiger & František Bartoš & Mathew P. White & Bastiaan T. Rutjens & Frenk Harreveld & Federica Stablum & Berkan Akın & Alaa Aldoh & Jinhao Bai & Frida Berglund & Aleša Brat, 2024. "A 27-country test of communicating the scientific consensus on climate change," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 8(10), pages 1892-1905, October.
    15. Scott Pruysers & Tobias Schminke & Gala Palavicini, 2025. "Personality traits and climate skepticism: evidence from Canada," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 178(3), pages 1-18, March.
    16. Agneman, Gustav & Henriks, Sofia & Bäck, Hanna & Renström, Emma, 2024. "On the nexus between material and ideological determinants of climate policy support," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    17. Welsch, Heinz, 2025. "Are national climate change mitigation pledges shaped by citizens' mitigation preferences? Evidence from globally representative data," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    18. Carley M. Eschliman & Emma Kuster & Joseph Ripberger & Adrienne M. Wootten, 2020. "Preparing to adapt: are public expectations in line with climate projections?," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(2), pages 851-871, November.
    19. Hasan Fehmi Topal & Dexter V. L. Hunt & Christopher D. F. Rogers, 2021. "Exploring Urban Sustainability Understanding and Behaviour: A Systematic Review towards a Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-33, January.
    20. Sælen, Håkon Grøn & Aasen, Marianne, 2023. "Exploring public opposition and support across different climate policies: Poles apart?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1824-:d:742691. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.