Testing Common Knowledge: Are Northern Europeans and Millennials More Concerned about the Environment?

Cristina Gómez-Román, Maria Luisa Lima, Gloria Seoane, Mónica Alzate, Marcos Dono and José-Manuel Sabucedo
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Cristina Gómez-Román: CRETUS Institute, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Maria Luisa Lima: CIS-IUL/ISCTE, Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal
Gloria Seoane: Department of Social Psychology, Basic and Methodology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Mónica Alzate: Department of Social Psychology, Basic and Methodology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Marcos Dono: Department of Social Psychology, Basic and Methodology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
José-Manuel Sabucedo: CRETUS Institute, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: This study explores whether there are differences in several environmental dimensions, when the European Region and Generation cohort are considered. In doing so, this study compares millennials in North and South Europe with members of Generation X in three environmental dimensions: attitudes, personal norms, and behavior. Using data from the European Social Survey ( n = 6.216), the researchers tested the hypothesis that Northern Europeans and millennials have more pro-environmental standing than southerners and Generation Xers. The findings challenge the common belief that millennials are more committed to being environmentally conscious, showing that many millennials do not feel responsible for their climate footprint, nor do they behave in a way that shows more concern than previous generations to improve their environmental performance. Furthermore, contrary to expectations, Northern European participants are not the most committed, in all environmental dimensions, compared to Southern Europeans.

Keywords: Europe; generation; pro-environmental attitudes; pro-environmental behavior; personal norms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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