The Changing Pattern of the Chinese Public’s Environmental Concern and its Link with Pro-environmental Behavior

• In Event: 254 - Section on Environment and Technology Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 13. Social Movements

Abstract

I analyzed three subjects related to environmental concern and pro-environmental behavior of the Chinese public in this paper: the changes in environmental concern between 2003 and 2010, the link between environmental concern and pro-environmental behavior, and the causal factors that shape one’s environmental concern. Findings show that the Chinese public were more likely to concern about the environment in 2010 than in 2003. In addition, confirmatory factory analysis and structural equation modeling results suggested that there were connections among individual attributes, environmental concern and pro-environmental behavior. Moreover, economic affluence and education remained influential in shaping one’s environmental concern in both years. Increasing environmental concern and its connection with pro-environmental behavior might suggest an optimistic outlook for addressing environmental problems in China. They might contribute to the development of environmental movement, the increase in government spending on environmental protection, and the implementation of environmental-friendly policies.

Author

• Feng Hao, University of Richmond