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Does environmental knowledge drive pro-environmental behaviour in developing countries? Evidence from households in Ghana

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  • Anthony Amoah

    (Central University
    Center for Climate Compatible and Environmental Development)

  • Thomas Addoah

    (Center for Climate Compatible and Environmental Development)

Abstract

Ghana and other developing countries in Africa are currently facing severe environmental problems with their associated health implications. In the environment and development literature, environmental knowledge is generally believed to influence people’s behaviour. To help in dealing with environmental management problems commonly found in developing countries, this study models environmental knowledge as a predictor of variation in the pro-environmental behaviour of households in Ghana. Using a household survey approach, and a multinomial logit regression analysis, we found that environmental knowledge is positive and statistically highly significant in explaining pro-environmental behaviour. Also, this study acknowledges that changes in pro-environmental behaviour are accounted for by environmental knowledge (internal factors) as well as socio-economic (external) factors. Based on the findings, the study attempts to draw lessons for policy decision-making in Ghana and other developing countries with similar characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony Amoah & Thomas Addoah, 2021. "Does environmental knowledge drive pro-environmental behaviour in developing countries? Evidence from households in Ghana," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 2719-2738, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:23:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s10668-020-00698-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-020-00698-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Luiela Magdalena Csorba & Florin Vaduva & Dan-Ion Ghergut, 2023. "The Electrical and Electronic Products Consumers’ Sustainable Behaviour in the Context of Consolidating Their Fundamental Rights," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 25(62), pages 1-28, February.
    3. Isaac Tebogo Rampedi & Ayodeji Peter Ifegbesan, 2022. "Understanding the Determinants of Pro-Environmental Behavior among South Africans: Evidence from a Structural Equation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-14, March.
    4. Pengya Ai & Wu Li & Wuyue Yang, 2021. "Adolescents’ Social Media Use and Their Voluntary Garbage Sorting Intention: A Sequential Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-12, July.
    5. Kyere, Francis & Dongying, Sun & Bampoe, Gertrude Dotse & Kumah, Naana Yaa Gyamea & Asante, Dennis, 2024. "Decoding the shift: Assessing household energy transition and unravelling the reasons for resistance or adoption of solar photovoltaic," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    6. Ayodeji P. Ifegbesan & Isaac T. Rampedi & Biodun Ogunyemi & Lee-Ann Modley, 2022. "Predicting Pro-Environmental Behaviour amongst Citizens in African Countries: A Cross-National Study amongst Six African Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-18, July.
    7. Farzana Riva & Solon Magrizos & Mohammad Rabiul Basher Rubel, 2021. "Investigating the link between managers' green knowledge and leadership style, and their firms' environmental performance: The mediation role of green creativity," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 3228-3240, November.
    8. Tan-Soo, Jie-Sheng & Li, Jun & Qin, Ping, 2023. "Individuals' and households' climate adaptation and mitigation behaviors: A systematic review," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    9. Osman M. Jama & Abdishakur W. Diriye & Abdulhakim M. Abdi, 2023. "Understanding young people’s perception toward forestation as a strategy to mitigate climate change in a post-conflict developing country," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(6), pages 4787-4811, June.
    10. Anthony Amoah & Peter G. Moffatt, 2021. "Willingness to pay for reliable piped water services: evidence from urban Ghana," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 23(4), pages 805-829, October.
    11. Elgloria Harrison & Ashley D. Milton & Matthew L. Richardson, 2020. "Knowledge and Perceptions of Environmental Issues by African Americans/Blacks in Washington, DC, USA: Giving Voice to the Voiceless," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-14, November.
    12. Reza Movahedi & Mahboobeh Ataei-Asad & Taraneh Sarami-Foroushani, 2024. "Changing potato farmers’ behavior against only the chemical fertilizers to promote sustainable agricultural practice in Hamedan Province, Iran," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(9), pages 24359-24380, September.
    13. Susmita Sarmin & Atia Shahin & Md. Faruq Hasan, 2024. "Influence of socio-demographic and psychological factors on shaping farmers’ pro-environmental behavior in Dinajpur, Bangladesh," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 8(4), pages 1017-1049, December.
    14. Bora Ly, 2024. "Understanding pro-environmental behavior: the effects of social influence and environmental awareness in Cambodian context," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 14(4), pages 710-719, December.

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