The Importance of Environmental Knowledge for Private and Public Sphere Pro-Environmental Behavior: Modifying the Value-Belief-Norm Theory

Abstract

The promotion of pro-environmental behavior is regarded as very important in solving environmental problems. The Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory usually emphasizes internal factors; however, we have transformed this theory by including the environmental knowledge as an external factor. The results showed that action-related environmental knowledge was related to the ecological worldview and directly influenced the private sphere behavior. The ecological worldview, which in this paper was operationalized as environmental concern, had a direct effect on public sphere behavior and an indirect effect on private behavior through awareness of behavioral consequences. Thus, in this paper we revealed how specific environmental knowledge influenced pro-environmental behavior. We also suggest that it is important to educate people about local and global environmental problems, about the impact of behavior on the environment not only in private but also in the public sphere, and to foster the ecocentrism, as well. In addition, we revealed the meaning and necessity of education for environmental citizenship.

The impact of museum interpretation tour on visitors' engagement and post‐visit conservation intentions and behaviours

“…A noteworthy finding in Stage 2 of the study is the significant relationship between visitors' interest and engagement in a specific interactive interpretation, and their subsequent perception of connectedness with marine environments, and their self‐report of post‐visit conservation behaviours. These findings build on previous studies that have emphasised the value of environmental knowledge (Liobikienė & Poškus, 2019), environmental attitudes (Sattler & Bogner, 2017), environmental awareness and connectedness to nature (Han & Hyun, 2017) in predicting individuals' short and long‐term pro‐environmental or sustainable behaviours (Zelenika, Moreau, Lane, & Zhao, 2018). The findings in Stage 2 provide additional empirical support to the value of interpretative experiences in maritime settings in facilitating visitors' development of appropriate knowledge, values and behaviours.…”

Are Well Owners Unique Environmentalists? An Exploration of Rural Water Supply Infrastructure, Conservation Routines, and Moderation

“…That awareness could change more in the context of groundwater reliance than it does in educational contexts (as the education-PEB regression lines suggest). Liobikiene and Poskus [19] suggest that factual environmental knowledge promotes PEBs. Previous literature [52] demonstrates that individuals are more likely to engage in behaviors which are valued by their acquaintances and that social circles have a direct effect on sustainable routines.…”

“…While PEBs can include civic actions like signing petitions, marching, and policy support, individual or household-based PEBs like recycling, conserving energy, and buying green or organic goods are the most commonly studied. A number of scholars use quantitative methods to develop measures of environmental awareness, conservation attitudes, and pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors [15][16][17][18][19]. One common metric for environmental action is the integration of multiple survey items related to a variety of environmental behaviors, since research suggests that environmentalist actions tend to be correlated with each other.…”

Effect of Domestic and Global Environmental Events on Environmental Concern and Environmental Responsibility among University Students

“…Although these catastrophic environmental events cause diverse negative impacts on human well-being and natural ecosystems, both domestically and internationally, these events could help raise the level of environmental concern among people, and ultimately, lead to a greater individual sense of environmental responsibility. Many studies have explored the essential role of environmental knowledge and environmental attitudes in promoting an individual sense of environmental responsibility and pro-environmental behaviors [20,21]. Some previous studies have also identified the roles of environmental concerns in predicting people's environmentally-related behaviors [22][23][24], as well as the link between attitudes toward the environment and environmental concerns [25].…”