Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: the function of environmental connectedness, environmental ethics, & environmental knowledge

  • Nurul Hidayana Mohd Noor Faculty of Administrative Science & Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Seremban, 70300 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
  • Syeliya Md Zaini Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Susan Pudin Environment Protection Department Sabah, 89500 Penampang, Sabah, Malaysia.
  • Syazwi Jaafar Sidek Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

The environment is essential in determining the well-being and quality of human life. The rapid development of human civilization causes humans to depend highly on the world of science and technology. Unfortunately, this speed causes people to become complacent in carrying out their responsibility to protect the environment. The effects of these activities have begun to be felt by today's generation. Despite a strong consensus about human environmental responsibility, many people fail to behave in line with their pro-environmental behaviour. This study examines the interrelationship between environmental connectedness, ethics, knowledge, and pro-environmental behaviour. The quantitative survey method and convenience sampling collected data from the Malaysian public. The final valid data of 247 respondents were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis conducted within SPSS. The regression results showed that environmental connectedness, ethics, and knowledge significantly influenced pro-environmental behaviour. These results indicate that citizens who are emotionally attached to the environment, ethically value the environment, and are highly knowledgeable on how to preserve and conserve the environment will help guarantee a comfortable life. Several theoretical and practical implications are also highlighted in this paper.

Keywords: Environmental Connectedness, Environmental Ethics, Environmental Knowledge, Pro-Environmental Behaviour

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Henderson, K., & Loreau, M. (2023). A model of Sustainable Development Goals: Challenges and opportunities in promoting human well-being and environmental sustainability. Ecological Modelling, 475, 110164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.110164

Fan, W., Wang, F., Liu, S., Chen, T., Bai, X., & Zhang, Y. (2023). How does financial and manufacturing co-agglomeration affect environmental pollution? Evidence from China. Journal of Environmental Management, 325, 116544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116544

Duong, M., & Pensini, P. (2023). The role of connectedness in sustainable behaviour: A parallel mediation model examining the prosocial foundations of pro-environmental behaviour. Personality and Individual Differences, 209, 112216. https://doi.org/10.22059/jibm.2019.281017.3496

Esfandiar, K., Pearce, J., & Dowling, R. (2019). Personal norms and pro-environmental binning behaviour of visitors in national parks: The development of a conceptual framework. Tourism Recreation Research, 44(2), 163–177. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2019.1580936

Nisbet, E. K., & Zelenski, J. M. (2023). Nature Relatedness And Subjective Well-being. In Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-being Research (pp. 1-9). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Zhang, H., Cai, L., Bai, B., Yang, Y., & Zhang, J. (2023). National forest park visitors' connectedness to nature and pro-environmental behaviour: The effects of cultural ecosystem service, place, and event attachment. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 42, 100621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2023.100621

Harbrow, M. (2019). Visitors as Advocates: A Review of the Relationship between Participation in Outdoor Recreation and Support for Conservation and the Environment. New Zealand: N. Z. Department of Conservation.

Landon, A. C., Woosnam, K. M., & Boley, B. B. (2018). Modeling the psychological antecedents to tourists’ pro-sustainable behaviours: An application of the value-belief norm model. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 26(6), 957–972. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2017.1423320

Li, D., Zhao, L., Ma, S., Shao, S., & Zhang, L. (2019). What influences an individual’s pro-environmental behaviour? A literature review. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 146, 28–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.03.024

Martin, L., White, M. P., Hunt, A., Richardson, M., Pahl, S., & Burt, J. (2020). Nature contact, nature connectedness and associations with health, well-being, and pro-environmental behaviours. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 68, 101389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101389

Ertz, M., Karakas, F., & Sarigöllü, E. (2016). Exploring pro-environmental behaviors of consumers: An analysis of contextual factors, attitude, and behaviors. Journal of Business Research, 69(10), 3971-3980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.06.010

Han, H., & Hyun, S. S. (2017). Drivers of customer decision to visit an environmentally responsible museum: Merging the theory of planned behaviour and norm activation theory. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 34(9), 1155-1168. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2017.1304317

Mohd Suki, N. (2017). Green products usage: structural relationships on customer satisfaction and loyalty. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 24(1), 88-95. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2016.1169563

Mishal, A., Dubey, R., Gupta, O. K., & Luo, Z. (2017). Dynamics of environmental consciousness and green purchase behaviour: An empirical study. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 9(5), 682–706. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-11-2016-0168

Chakraborty, A., Singh, M. P., & Roy, M. (2017). A study of goal frames shaping pro-environmental behaviour in university students. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 18(7), 1291–1310. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-10-2016-0185

Wut, T. M., Ng, P., Kan, H. K. M., & Fong, C. S. (2021). Does gender matter? Attitude towards waste charging policy and pro-environmental behaviours. Social Responsibility Journal, 17(8), 1100-1115. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-03-2020-0102

Zareie, B., & Navimipour, N. J. (2016). The impact of electronic environmental knowledge on the environmental behaviours of people. Computers in Human Behaviour, 59, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.01.025

Vicente-Molina, M. A., Fernández-Sainz, A., & Izagirre-Olaizola, J. (2018). Does gender make a difference in pro-environmental behavior? The case of the Basque Country University students. Journal of Cleaner Production, 176, 89-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.079

Georgescu, M. A., & Herman, E. (2020). Are young people ready to have a pro-environmental sustainable behaviour as tourists? An investigation of towel reuse intention. Sustainability, 12(22), 9469. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229469

Ongan, S., Işık, C., Amin, A., Bulut, U., Rehman, A., Alvarado, R., ... & Karakaya, S. (2023). Are economic growth and environmental pollution a dilemma? Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(17), 49591-49604. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25698-y

Sinar Harian (September 23, 2019). 80 Peratus Sungai Di Bandar 'Mati' Akibat Pencemaran. Retrieved from https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/80-peratus-sungai-di-bandar-mati-akibat-pencemaran-218233

Mansoor, M., & Wijaksana, T. I. (2023). Predictors of pro-environmental behaviour: Moderating role of knowledge sharing and mediatory role of perceived environmental responsibility. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 66(5), 1089-1107. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2021.2016380

Gao, Y., Zhao, Z., Ma, Y., & Li, Y. (2023). A rational-affective-moral factor model for determining tourists’ pro-environmental behaviour. Current Issues in Tourism, 26(13), 2145–2163. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2022.2078687

Shanmugavel, N., & Balakrishnan, J. (2023). Influence of pro-environmental behaviour towards behavioural intention of electric vehicles. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 187, 122206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.122206

Farrukh, M., Raza, A., Mansoor, A., Khan, M. S., & Lee, J. W. C. (2023). Trends and patterns in pro-environmental behaviour research: A bibliometric review and research agenda. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 30(3), 681-696. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-10-2020-0521

Soomro, M. A., Ali, M. H., Zailani, S., Tseng, M. L., & Makhbul, Z. M. (2023). Understanding barriers and motivations in solid waste management from Malaysian industries: A comparative analysis. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(3), 5717-5729. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22558-z

Martin, C. & Czellar, S. (2016). The extended inclusion of nature in self-scale. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 47, 181-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2016.05.006

Mackay, C. M., & Schmitt, M. T. (2019). Do people who feel connected to nature do more to protect it? A meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 65, 101323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.101323

Teixeira, A., Gabriel, R., Martinho, J., Santos, M., Faria, A., Oliveira, I., & Moreira, H. (2023). Pro-environmental behaviors: Relationship with nature visits, connectedness to nature, and physical activity. American Journal of Health Promotion, 37(1), 12-29. https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171221119089

Lengieza, M. L., Aviste, R., & Swim, J. K. (2023). Connectedness to nature through outdoor environmental education: Insights from psychology. Outdoor Environmental Education in the Contemporary World, 49-81. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29257-6_4

Bezeljak, P., Torkar, G., & Möller, A. (2023). Understanding Austrian middle school students’ connectedness with nature. The Journal of Environmental Education, 54(3), 181-198. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2023.2188577

Singh, S. K., Chen, J., Del Giudice, M., & El-Kassar, A. N. (2019). Environmental ethics, environmental performance, and competitive advantage: Role of environmental training. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 146, 203-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2019.05.032

Reed, M. G., & Slaymaker, O. (1993). Ethics and sustainability: A preliminary perspective. Environment and Planning A, 25(5), 723-739. https://doi.org/10.1068/a250723

Traer, R. (2019). Doing environmental ethics. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429443886

Rolston III, H. (2020). A new environmental ethics: The next millennium for life on earth. Routledge.

Verma, A. K. (2019). Sustainable development and environmental ethics. International Journal on Environmental Sciences, 10(1), 1-5. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3689046

Bala, R., Singh, S., & Sharma, K. K. (2023). Relationship between environmental knowledge, environmental sensitivity, environmental attitude, and environmental behavioural intention–A segmented mediation approach. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 34(1), 119–136. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-08-2021-0202

Asif, M. H., Zhongfu, T., Irfan, M., & Işık, C. (2023). Do environmental knowledge and green trust matter for the purchase intention of eco-friendly home appliances? An application of extended theory of planned behavior. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(13), 37762–37774. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24899-1

Chaihanchanchai, P., & Anantachart, S. (2023). Encouraging green product purchase: Green value and environmental knowledge as moderators of attitude and behavior relationship. Business Strategy and the Environment, 32(1), 289-303. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3130

Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2019). Research Methods for Business. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.

Pearce, J., Huang, S. S., Dowling, R. K., & Smith, A. J. (2022). Effects of social and personal norms, and connectedness to nature, on pro-environmental behavior: A study of Western Australian protected area visitors. Tourism Management Perspectives, 42, 100966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2022.100966

Gurbuzoglu Yalmanci, S. (2015). Investigation of environmental ethics approaches of students in terms of various variables. The Anthropologist, 21(3), 385-394. https://doi.org/10.1080/09720073.2015.11891850

Jaiswal, D., & Kant, R. (2018). Green purchasing behavior: A conceptual framework and empirical investigation of Indian consumers. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 41, 60–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2017.11.008

Blok, V., Wesselink, R., Studynka, O., & Kemp, R. (2015). Encouraging sustainability in the workplace: A survey on the pro-environmental behaviour of university employees. Journal of Cleaner Production, 106, 55-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.07.063

Gliner, J. A., & Morgan, G. A. (2000). Research Methods in Applied Settings: An Integrated Approach to Design & Analysis. Morwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Kline, T. (2005). Psychological Testing: A Practical Approach to Design and Evaluation. Sage.

Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J. Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879

Al Zaidi, S. M., Iyanna, S., Jabeen, F., & Mehmood, K. (2023). Understanding employees’ voluntary pro-environmental behaviour in public organizations–An integrative theory approach. Social Responsibility Journal, 19(8), 1466–1489. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-04-2022-0176

Silvi, M., & Padilla, E. (2021). Pro‐environmental behavior: Social norms, intrinsic motivation, and external conditions. Environmental Policy and Governance, 31(6), 619-632. https://doi.org/10.1002/eet.1960

Dehghani Soltani, M., Shoul, A., & Ramezani, S. (2019). Investigating environmental value and green image supposed effects on the word-of-mouth advertising tendency by explaining green trust and willingness to pay roles through the SOR model framework. Journal of Business Management, 11(4), 804-824.

Ardoin, N. M., Bowers, A. W., & Gaillard, E. (2020). Environmental education outcomes for conservation: A systematic review. Biological Conservation, 241, 108224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108224

Islam, M. S., Karia, N., Taib, F. M., Ara, H., & Moeinzadeh, S. (2022). Ethic-religious green supply chain management (GSCM): Embedding Islamic ethics’ codes for improving environmental concerns. Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, 13(1), 157-176. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-02-2021-0052
Statistics
45 Views | 0 Downloads
How to Cite
Mohd Noor, N. H., Md Zaini , S., Pudin, S., & Jaafar Sidek, S. (2024). Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: the function of environmental connectedness, environmental ethics, & environmental knowledge. Muallim Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 8(2), 17-32. https://doi.org/10.33306/mjssh/272