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Encouraging 'Environmental Action' by Exhortation: Evidence from a Study in Devon

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  • Andrew Gilg
  • Stewart Barr

Abstract

National and local campaigns to encourage 'Environmental Action' use a range of media to increase the levels of activities such as recycling, energy saving and water conservation. These are conventionally focused on the population as a whole. The research reported in this paper suggests that such an approach, based on a belief that general campaigns are effective, might not be very effective and could be modified to take account of how different groups of people behave. In addition, the focus of campaigns on sectoral activities like water and energy saving might also be inappropriate given our findings, which are based on a survey of 1265 households in Devon. This found that three major types of behaviour characterise 'Environmental Action': purchasing, habitual activities and recycling behaviour. In addition, demographically and attitudinally defined clusters of individuals point to very different types of behaviour across the population. These findings suggest that more focused campaigns and a re-evaluation of how 'Environmental Action' is segmented would greatly assist policy makers in developing effective strategies for enhancing 'Environmental Action'.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Gilg & Stewart Barr, 2005. "Encouraging 'Environmental Action' by Exhortation: Evidence from a Study in Devon," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(4), pages 593-618.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jenpmg:v:48:y:2005:i:4:p:593-618
    DOI: 10.1080/09640560500128533
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. de Janvry, Alain & Sadoulet, Elisabeth & Villas-Boas, Sofia, 2010. "Short on shots: Are calls for cooperative restraint effective in managing a flu vaccines shortage?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 76(2), pages 209-224, November.
    3. Phillips, Paul S. & Tudor, Terry & Bird, Helen & Bates, Margaret, 2011. "A critical review of a key Waste Strategy Initiative in England: Zero Waste Places Projects 2008–2009," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 335-343.
    4. He, H.Z. & Kua, H.W., 2013. "Lessons for integrated household energy conservation policy from Singapore’s southwest Eco-living Program," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 105-116.
    5. Thorsøe, Martin Hvarregaard & Noe, Egon Bjørnshave & Lamandé, Mathieu & Frelih-Larsen, Ana & Kjeldsen, Chris & Zandersen, Marianne & Schjønning, Per, 2019. "Sustainable soil management - Farmers’ perspectives on subsoil compaction and the opportunities and barriers for intervention," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 427-437.
    6. Uzziah Mutumbi & Gladman Thondhlana & Sheunesu Ruwanza, 2022. "Co-Designed Interventions Yield Significant Electricity Savings among Low-Income Households in Makhanda South Africa," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-17, March.
    7. Anna Scott & Caroline Oates & William Young, 2015. "A Conceptual Framework of the Adoption and Practice of Environmental Actions in Households," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-26, May.

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