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The gap between global issues and personal behaviors: pro-environmental behaviors of citizens toward climate change in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

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  • Shis-Ping Lin

Abstract

Taiwan ranks 22nd worldwide in greenhouse gas emissions. One-third of these emissions come from the city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. To mitigate global warming, the Taiwanese government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of environmental protection have promoted a series of energy conservation methods based on citizens’ pro-environmental behaviors. This research sorts these pro-environmental behaviors into five categories: diet, clothing, housing, transport, and recreation; further, it assesses them empirically by applying the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to a survey of 223 Kaohsiung residents. With the application of structural equation modeling, the indicators for each of these five models showed a good fit to the TPB, with goodness-of-fit (GFI) and adjusted goodness-of-fit (AGFI) values of 0.8 and above, comparative fit index (CFI) of 0.9 and above, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) below 0.08. From these results, this research found that attitudes toward global warming influence citizens’ pro-environment behavioral intentions; in particular, perceived behavior control played an important role in the model. This research suggests that people will accept pro-environmental behaviors if they perceive evidence of the usefulness and convenience of these behaviors. “Keep it simple” might be a good byword for promoting energy conservation methods. Nevertheless, it seems that it will be hard to change citizens’ appetite or travel habits to mitigate global warming without providing clear, strong incentives. Copyright The Author(s) 2013

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  • Shis-Ping Lin, 2013. "The gap between global issues and personal behaviors: pro-environmental behaviors of citizens toward climate change in Kaohsiung, Taiwan," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 18(6), pages 773-783, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:18:y:2013:i:6:p:773-783
    DOI: 10.1007/s11027-012-9387-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aysel Tikir & Bernard Lehmann, 2011. "Climate change, theory of planned behavior and values: a structural equation model with mediation analysis," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 104(2), pages 389-402, January.
    2. Abrahamse, Wokje & Steg, Linda, 2009. "How do socio-demographic and psychological factors relate to households' direct and indirect energy use and savings?," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 711-720, October.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Liang-Chu Ho & Yu-Hsien Sung & Chia-Chun Wu & Pei-Shan Lee & Wen-Bin Chiou, 2020. "Envisaging Mitigation Action Can Induce Lower Discounting toward Future Environmental Gains and Promote Pro-Environmental Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Yingying Sun & Ziqiang Han, 2018. "Climate Change Risk Perception in Taiwan: Correlation with Individual and Societal Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, January.
    4. Chih-Ching Teng & Chueh Chih & Yao-Chin Wang, 2020. "Decisional Factors Driving Household Food Waste Prevention: Evidence from Taiwanese Families," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Hongyun Si & Jian-gang Shi & Daizhong Tang & Shiping Wen & Wei Miao & Kaifeng Duan, 2019. "Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior in Environmental Science: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-26, August.
    6. Dirk-Jan van de Ven & Mikel González-Eguino & Iñaki Arto, 2018. "The potential of behavioural change for climate change mitigation: a case study for the European Union," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 853-886, August.
    7. Tiberio Daddi & Niccolò Maria Todaro & Maria Rosa De Giacomo & Marco Frey, 2018. "A Systematic Review of the Use of Organization and Management Theories in Climate Change Studies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(4), pages 456-474, May.
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    9. Wei-Ta Fang & Eric Ng & Yong-Shen Zhan, 2018. "Determinants of Pro-Environmental Behavior among Young and Older Farmers in Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-15, June.
    10. April Karen Baptiste, 2018. "Climate change knowledge, concerns, and behaviors among Caribbean fishers," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 8(1), pages 51-62, March.
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