Does climate change stimulate citizens' responses to conserving urban forest? Insights from stimulus-organism-response theory

Climate change presents profound challenges to urban environments, highlighting the pressing need for active citizen engagement in combating efforts, particularly with urban forests conservation. This research seeks to address the critical necessity for effective community involvement as climate-related risks intensify. By examining the interplay between climate change stimuli and citizen responses through using the Stimulus-Organism-Response theory, this study aims to understand the impact of climate change on citizens’ engagement in conserving urban forests in Tehran as case study. The study involved the analysis of data collected from 596 participants via a structured questionnaire. Utilizing structural equation modeling, the research examined the relationships among various latent constructs, ensuring both reliability and validity in its measurement framework. The results reveal that evidence of climate change significantly enhances citizens' environmental concern and sense of environmental responsibility. Furthermore, societal influence plays a crucial role in amplifying these responses. Specifically, increased environmental concern is strongly correlated with heightened intentions to engage in conservation actions. The study also reveals a gap between intention and actual conservation behavior, highlighting barriers that prevent individuals from translating intention into action. This study contributes to the theoretical literature by integrating emotional and cognitive dimensions into the understanding of pro-environmental behavior, offering essential insights for policymakers aiming to cultivate community engagement in urban forestry initiatives. By elucidating the complex interplay between external stimuli and internal psychological processes, this research provides a comprehensive framework for developing strategies that enhance public participation in climate change mitigation efforts. Ultimately, addressing both cognitive and emotional aspects is vital for fostering effective urban forest conservation in a rapidly changing climate.