Beliefs about Climate Change and Their Relationship with Environmental Beliefs and Sustainable Behavior: A View from Rural Communities

Abstract

The study of beliefs and environmental behavior is of special interest, given the implications of climate change as a social phenomenon and the disagreements about what is socially believed about this phenomenon. This research was aimed at determining the associations between environmental beliefs and sustainable behavior in a group of inhabitants of southern Colombia. The methodology was exploratory and cross-sectional, with descriptive and correlational analyses. The sample was made up of 368 people from two regions in southern Colombia (57.5% female and 42.5% male); their ages ranged between 18 and 69 years (X = 19.36; SD = 8.59). Information was collected with questionnaires that measured climate change risk perception, environmental beliefs, and sustainable behavior. The results show higher scores for equitable behavior and environmental beliefs. Environmental beliefs—egobiocentrism—and risk perception of climate change predict both sustainable and pro-ecological behavior, as well as altruistic, frugal, and equitable behavior. It is concluded that the presence of environmental beliefs, along with information regarding a sense of environmental deterioration, climate change and the consequences for the future, can predict the implementation of actions for sustainable development.

Impact of the Energy Sector on the Quality of the Environment in the Opinion of Energy Consumers from Southeastern Poland

“…The perception of environmental quality issues depends on many factors, both social and individual characteristics of people. The importance of ecological education and shaping pro-ecological attitudes are emphasized [54,[64][65][66][67][68]. Similar relationships have been identified in studies conducted in southeastern Poland.…”

Anthropocentric, biospheric and egobiocentric environmental values and green product purchase intention: The mediating effect of environmental identity

“…Furthermore, the conventional classification of EVs (anthropocentic and eco-centric) does not necessarily recognise how humans are positioned in relation to nature. Further investigations into egobiocentric values can better inform GPPI (Sierra-Bar on et al, 2021). Therefore, these three values (anthropocentric, biospheric and egobiocentric) were chosen as the focus of the present study.…”

“…The second issue is related to the classifications of EVs. Although some research confirms the existence of the three distinguishing EVs, moving beyond the dichotomous views of EVs such as the classification of anthropocentric, biospheric and egobiocentric values Amérigo et al (2007), only a few recent research studies (Ajibade & Boateng, 2021;Sierra-Bar on et al, 2021) empirically validate the findings. This paucity of research also limits researchers' ability to make a meaningful contribution to better inform green product marketing strategies.…”