What Role Does Sustainable Behavior and Environmental Awareness from Civil Society Play in the Planet’s Sustainable Transition

Micaela Pinho and Sofia Gomes ()
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Micaela Pinho: Research on Economics, Management and Information Technologies, REMIT, Portucalense Legal Institute, IJP, Portucalense University, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Sofia Gomes: Research on Economics, Management and Information Technologies, REMIT, Portucalense University, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal

Resources, 2023, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: The respect of human beings for the planet’s boundaries is an obligation of humanity for the sake of our own and future generations. Achieving this planetary sustainability requires a radical change in the way humanity develops. This study aims to explore whether a sample of Portuguese civil society is committed to achieving this purpose. We explored: (i) citizens’ adherence to sustainable behaviour in terms of purchases and household practices; (ii) if environmental concerns and activism are predictors of these sustainable behaviours; and (iii) if environmental concerns influence environmental activism. A quantitative approach was used based on partial least squares. The results revealed that respondents demonstrate sustainable behaviour in consumption by avoiding plastic and looking for recyclable packaging and in housework by saving energy; environmental activism proved to be the most significant predictor of these behaviours, followed by environmental concerns. This article constitutes an opportunity to take (suggested) measures that encourage a change in the behavioural patterns of societies.

Keywords: planetary sustainability; sustainable behaviours; environmental concerns; collective environmental actions; environmental activism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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