How Perceived Exposure to Environmental Harm Influences Environmental Behavior in Urban China

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July 30, 2012 - Xiaodong Chen, M. Nils Peterson, Vanessa Hull<hullvane@gmail.com>, Chuntian Lu, Dayong Hong, Jianguo Liu<liuji@msu.edu>

Journal or Book Title: AMBIO

Keywords: China; environmental attitudes, environmental harm, new environmental paradigm, pro-environmental behavior

Volume/Issue: Online

Year Published: 2012

Rapid environmental degradation in China makes understanding how perceived exposure to environmental harm influences environmental attitudes and participation in pro-environmental behaviors among the Chinese people crucial. We used a nation-wide survey dataset in urban China to test two hypotheses: experiencing environmental harm directly affects environmental behavior; environmental attitudes mediate the relationship between experiencing environmental harm and environmental behavior. We found respondents who experienced environmental harm had more pro-environmental attitudes. Experiencing environmental harm positively influenced pro-environmental behavior both directly and indirectly through the mediation of pro-environmental attitudes. Among the pro-environmental behaviors, environmental litigation was most strongly related with exposure to environmental harm. Our results suggest that more participation in pro-environmental behaviors may be expected as rapid economic development increases public exposure to environmental harm in urban China.

DOI: 10.1007/s13280-012-0335-9

Type of Publication: Journal Article

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Tag List
  • center for systems integration and sustainability,
  • china,
  • environmental attitudes,
  • environmental harm,
  • new environmental paradigm,
  • pro-environmental behavior
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