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Exploring the Moderating Role of Environmental Education in Promoting a Clean Environment

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  • Lianfeng Ma

    (School of Finance and Economics, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
    Planning and Financial Department, Guangzhou Civil Aviation College, Guangzhou 510403, China)

  • Pomi Shahbaz

    (Department of Economics, Division of Management and Administrative Science, University of Education, Lahore 54770, Pakistan)

  • Shamsheer ul Haq

    (Department of Economics, Division of Management and Administrative Science, University of Education, Lahore 54770, Pakistan)

  • Ismet Boz

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, Ondkuz Mayis University, Samsun 55139, Turkey)

Abstract

Environmental education plays a significant role in improving environmental knowledge and shaping the eco-friendly lifestyles of young people. Young people’s daily actions and habits will determine the future of the Earth as a planet. The literature regarding youths’ environmental knowledge, climate change awareness, environmental attitude, and their impact on pro-environmental intentions and sustainable household consumption practices is very scarce. Therefore, this study explored the relationship between environmental knowledge, climate change awareness, environmental attitude, and the pro-environmental intentions of university students. The study also assessed the moderating effect of environmental education on pro-environmental behavior and sustainable household consumption practices, providing a comparative analysis of students with and without environmental education, which is unique in the literature. The data were collected from 2137 Chinese university students selected through a purposive and random sampling method through survey questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) were used to analyze the collected data. The findings revealed that environmental knowledge, climate change awareness, and environmental attitudes of the students positively affected their pro-environmental intentions. Moreover, pro-environmental intentions also positively affected the adoption of sustainable practices. The result also showed that the impact of pro-environmental intentions on sustainable consumption practices was greater for those whose education included environmental courses than for those whose education did not. Therefore, it is suggested that environment-related courses be incorporated into the study plans of each discipline as a compulsory subject for promoting green intentions and shaping eco-friendly lifestyles for environmental sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Lianfeng Ma & Pomi Shahbaz & Shamsheer ul Haq & Ismet Boz, 2023. "Exploring the Moderating Role of Environmental Education in Promoting a Clean Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:8127-:d:1148671
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pomi Shahbaz & Shamsheer ul Haq & Azhar Abbas & Abdus Samie & Ismet Boz & Salim Bagadeem & Ziyue Yu & Zhihui Li, 2022. "Food, Energy, and Water Nexus at Household Level: Do Sustainable Household Consumption Practices Promote Cleaner Environment?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-18, October.
    2. repec:eme:ijlma0:ijlma-01-2018-0011 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Gladman Thondhlana & Thina N. Hlatshwayo, 2018. "Pro-Environmental Behaviour in Student Residences at Rhodes University, South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-19, August.
    4. Kemp, Katherine & Insch, Andrea & Holdsworth, David K. & Knight, John G., 2010. "Food miles: Do UK consumers actually care?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 504-513, December.
    5. Muhammad Khalilur Rahman & Md Abu Issa Gazi & Miraj Ahmed Bhuiyan & Md Atikur Rahaman, 2021. "Effect of Covid-19 pandemic on tourist travel risk and management perceptions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-18, September.
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    7. Felipe Vásquez & Gibran Vita & Daniel B. Müller, 2018. "Food Security for an Aging and Heavier Population," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-19, October.
    8. Marshall, N.A. & Park, S. & Howden, S.M. & Dowd, A.B. & Jakku, E.S., 2013. "Climate change awareness is associated with enhanced adaptive capacity," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 30-34.
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