The "Intention-Behavior Gap" in Low-Carbon Travel: Psychological Mechanisms and Interventions

Rongjing Yuan

Journal of Psychology & Human Behavior, 2026, vol. 3, issue 1, 17-25

Abstract: The persistent growth of tourism-related carbon emissions poses a significant challenge to global climate goals. Despite a marked increase in pro-environmental attitudes and a stated willingness among tourists to support sustainability, a substantial gap remains between their low-carbon travel intentions and actual behaviors. This review synthesizes existing literature to explore this "intention-behavior gap" in low-carbon tourism. We argue that the gap is not merely a result of insufficient awareness but is sustained by a complex interplay of internal psychological mechanisms and external contextual barriers. Key psychological drivers include cognitive dissonance and neutralization strategies, the contextual dominance of hedonic goals during tourism, and moral licensing effects. These are compounded by external factors such as infrastructural carbon lock-in, the "green premium" on sustainable options, and information asymmetry exacerbated by greenwashing. The paper subsequently evaluates promising behavioral interventions designed to bridge this gap. These include refined choice architecture strategies like "nudge+" and the use of anchors, enhanced carbon labeling focused on transparency and moral credibility, and the integration of emotional and social value into low-carbon offerings.

Keywords: intention-behavior gap; low-carbon travel; psychological barriers; sustainable tourism; choice architecture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:axf:jphbaa:v:3:y:2026:i:1:p:17-25

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