What time to adapt? The role of discretionary time in sustaining the climate change value–action gap

Abstract

Abstract:We investigate the role discretionary (non-working) time plays in sustaining the gap between individuals' concern about climate change and their propensity to act on this concern by adopting sustainable consumption practices. Using recent Australian survey data on climate change adaptation, we find that while discretionary time is unrelated to concern about climate change, it is positively correlated with the propensity to adopt mitigating behavior. Moreover, we find that increasing discretionary time is associated with significant reductions in the gap between the concern that individuals express about climate change and their reporting of engagement in sustainable consumption practices. JEL Codes: D12, D83, Q50

Reducing Working Hours as a Means to Foster Low(er)-Carbon Lifestyles? An Exploratory Study on Swiss Employees

“…One very important last finding, in regard to our fourth research question, was that in accordance with earlier findings [28] of an inversely correlated connection between subjective discretionary time and individual value action gaps, our data also showed strong indications of an increase in subjective discretionary time leading to a decrease of the study participants' value action gaps, although not necessarily in the context of pro-environmental values.…”

“…Consequently, more time might only manifest itself in more environmentally friendly behavior for individuals for whom the conservation of the environment is of high relevance. Empirical evidence has been found for such a moderating role of pro-environmental value orientation [28], whereas other results [29] do not support the assumption of a moderating effect of pro-environmental values. Other research has shed light on the interrelationship of non-materialistic or intrinsic values, sustainable behavior and subjective well-being, pointing out that individuals with a non-materialistic value orientation show more pro-environmental behavior and are more satisfied with their lives, compared to individuals whose values are highly materialistic (for an overview see [30]).…”

Determinants of sustainable consumption in France: the importance of social influence and environmental values

“…Recent empirical findings show the difficulty experienced by consumers in putting into practice their initial intentions in relation to environmental issues. This 'value-action' gap is illustrative of the problems involved in implementing sustainable consumption (Gifford et al 2011;Chai et al 2015).…”

“…In other words, consumption habit changes depend as much on the economic values of different consumers groups as on the capabilities of certain groups to convey new values and co-opt new consumers, suggesting the potential role of learning about sustainable consumption (Witt 2011). This process of change will be long and uneasy since there is a noticeable gap between concern for the environment and a propensity for positive action in this direction (Gifford et al 2011;Chai et al 2015).…”

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“…However many of these campaigns turn out to be relatively ineffective because of the so called 'value-action' gap (Chai et al 2015). This refers to the great paradox that emerges when one compares public perceptions of climate change and its associated impact on the environment with the literature on consumption sustainability.…”