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Ideas to action: environmental beliefs, behaviors, and support for environmental policies

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Abstract

This study uses data from two independent surveys of three communities in Colorado and Wyoming in 1997 and 2012 and examines how environmental attitudes and beliefs (as measured by the New Environmental Paradigm Scale) are related to support for a range of environmental policies and self-reported environmental actions. Results of structural equation modeling show that policy support mediates the influences of the NEP on environmental action, compatible with the value-belief-norm theory. In addition, this study finds a weaker relationship between policy support and environmental action in 2012 than 1997, indicating that environmental beliefs play an increasingly weaker role over time in the decision of individuals to engage in environmental actions. Community comparisons suggest that recycling infrastructure may be a significant facilitator for environmental actions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20016-8072, USA

    Chenyang Xiao

  2. Department of Sociology, Illinois College, 1101 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, IL, 62650, USA

    Jan Buhrmann

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  1. Chenyang Xiao
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  2. Jan Buhrmann
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Correspondence to Chenyang Xiao.

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Xiao, C., Buhrmann, J. Ideas to action: environmental beliefs, behaviors, and support for environmental policies. J Environ Stud Sci 9, 196–205 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-019-00541-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-019-00541-4

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