General Versus Specific Environmental Concern

Abstract

Using data from a random sample survey of residents In Edmonton, Alberta, and applying LISREL techniques, previously Identified socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental attitudinal predictors are examined and compared across two measures of environmental concem: concem about the environment in general and concem about a specific issue and associated trade-offs. As expected, political party identification and level of education were important determinants in both cases, the significant effect of political party identification is attributed to the relative ideological diversity evident in the Canadian political structure. Contrary to expectations, however, measuring reaction to a specific, local environmental issue and posing economic trade-offs as a consequence did not result In substantially improved explanatory ability, or more pronounced class differences. Instead, the findings support suggestions that environmental concem, regardless of how it is presently measured, is not only wide-spread but also extended across demographic and economic barriers.

Investment with a Conscience: Examining the Impact of Pro-Social Attitudes and Perceived Financial Performance on Socially Responsible Investment Behavior

“…Lyons and Breakwell, 1994;Vinning and Ebreo, 1990), is better educated (e.g. Chan, 1999;Wall, 1995), and lives in urban areas (e.g. Samdahl and Robertson, 1989).…”

Preference to home landscape: wildness or neatness?

“…Education has been shown to be the most consistent predictor for environmental concern (Wall, 1995). Much of the work indicates that individuals with high levels of education tend to care more about the environment (Ewert and Baker, 2001).…”

Explaining landholders' decisions about riparian zone management: The role of behavioural, normative, and control beliefs

“…It might be expected, for example, that younger, more educated land managers will be more likely to adopt sustainable practices. However, research examining the relationship between socio-demographic variables and proenvironmental attitudes and behaviour has shown conflicting results (Tarrant and Cordell, 1997) and, in general, demographic variables have been found to explain only a small amount of the variance (Wall, 1995). Consistent with this, Cary et al (2001) concluded that there was a weak or non-existent relationship between age and education and adoption of agricultural best practice.…”