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Human-Environment System Knowledge: A Correlate of Pro-Environmental Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Pablo Díaz-Siefer

    (Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota 2260000, Chile)

  • Alexander Neaman

    (Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota 2260000, Chile)

  • Eduardo Salgado

    (Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota 2260000, Chile)

  • Juan L. Celis-Diez

    (Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota 2260000, Chile)

  • Siegmar Otto

    (Institute of Psychology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg 39106, Germany)

Abstract

An effective program of environmental education requires the identification of the knowledge that must be imparted. This paper compares the effects of human-environment system knowledge ( i.e. , knowledge related to environmental problems caused by humans) and environmental action knowledge ( i.e. , knowledge of possible courses of action to reduce human impact on the environment) on pro-environmental behavior. Environmental knowledge and pro-environmental behavior of 950 Chilean adults were assessed with a survey. Both types of knowledge were related to pro-environmental behavior ( r = 0.25 and r = 0.22, respectively, p < 0.001). These results seem to contradict previous studies that found that system knowledge is not directly related to pro-environmental behavior. However, existing scales of environmental system knowledge are behavioral-distant due to their greater number of general geography knowledge items. In contrast, our human-environmental system knowledge scale focuses on understanding global environmental problems and, therefore, can be expected to relate more closely to pro-environmental behavior. To promote pro-environmental behavior, we suggest teaching more human-environment system knowledge and environmental action knowledge. Since different forms of environmental knowledge must work together in a convergent manner in order to foster pro-environmental behavior, the present study represents an important contribution by showing that greater human-environment system knowledge is correlated with pro-environmental behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Pablo Díaz-Siefer & Alexander Neaman & Eduardo Salgado & Juan L. Celis-Diez & Siegmar Otto, 2015. "Human-Environment System Knowledge: A Correlate of Pro-Environmental Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:11:p:15510-15526:d:59181
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. César Tapia-Fonllem & Victor Corral-Verdugo & Blanca Fraijo-Sing & Maria Fernanda Durón-Ramos, 2013. "Assessing Sustainable Behavior and its Correlates: A Measure of Pro-Ecological, Frugal, Altruistic and Equitable Actions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Susan M. Koger, 2013. "Psychological and Behavioral Aspects of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(7), pages 1-3, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michaela Maurer & Pavlos Koulouris & Franz X. Bogner, 2020. "Green Awareness in Action—How Energy Conservation Action Forces on Environmental Knowledge, Values and Behaviour in Adolescents’ School Life," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Alexander Neaman & Pamela Pensini & Sarah Zabel & Siegmar Otto & Dmitry S. Ermakov & Elvira A. Dovletyarova & Elliot Burnham & Mónica Castro & Claudia Navarro-Villarroel, 2022. "The Prosocial Driver of Ecological Behavior: The Need for an Integrated Approach to Prosocial and Environmental Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Michał Czepkiewicz & Áróra Árnadóttir & Jukka Heinonen, 2019. "Flights Dominate Travel Emissions of Young Urbanites," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-35, November.
    4. Jakučionytė-Skodienė, Miglė & Krikštolaitis, Ričardas & Liobikienė, Genovaitė, 2022. "The contribution of changes in climate-friendly behaviour, climate change concern and personal responsibility to household greenhouse gas emissions: Heating/cooling and transport activities in the Eur," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    5. Siti Intan Nurdiana Wong Abdullah & Zaiton Samdin & Jo Ann Ho & Siew Imm Ng, 2020. "Sustainability of marine parks: Is knowledge–attitude–behaviour still relevant?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(8), pages 7357-7384, December.
    6. Piyapong Janmaimool & Samattaphong Khajohnmanee, 2019. "Roles of Environmental System Knowledge in Promoting University Students’ Environmental Attitudes and Pro-Environmental Behaviors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-18, August.
    7. Su-Lan Pan & Ju Chou & Alastair M. Morrison & Wen-Shiung Huang & Meng-Chen Lin, 2018. "Will the Future Be Greener? The Environmental Behavioral Intentions of University Tourism Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, February.
    8. Aneta Mikuła & Małgorzata Raczkowska & Monika Utzig, 2021. "Pro-Environmental Behaviour in the European Union Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-19, September.
    9. Áróra Árnadóttir & Michał Czepkiewicz & Jukka Heinonen, 2019. "The Geographical Distribution and Correlates of Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors in an Urban Region," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-29, April.
    10. Alexander Neaman & Siegmar Otto & Eli Vinokur, 2018. "Toward an Integrated Approach to Environmental and Prosocial Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-11, February.
    11. Laura S. Loy & Karen R. S. Hamann & Gerhard Reese, 2020. "Navigating through the jungle of information. Informational self-efficacy predicts climate change-related media exposure, knowledge, and behaviour," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(4), pages 2097-2116, December.

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