Pro-ecological intentions : an investigation of drivers in Malta

Abstract

Different people value the environment in different ways, and some people feel closer to it than others. The dominant social paradigm of western society conditions how society should be organised and how nature is viewed. It provides answers that are seen as ‘natural’ and therefore rarely, if ever, questioned. The New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) which was proposed as an alternative worldview together with Connectedness to Nature (CN) provide an alternative pro-ecological consciousness. This study seeks to investigate how NEP and CN act to impact intention to take pro-ecological actions. In addition, it investigates whether these relations vary for three different interest groups, the impact of individuals who hold and tend agricultural land, together with the effect of gender and age. The study commences by reviewing the relevant literature and proposes hypotheses. It proceeds to identify instruments and collects data from three distinct interest groups namely: general public, hunters, and environmentalists. Hierarchical multiple regression is used to investigate effects. Results provide support that NEP, CN, interest group affiliation, and holding and tending agricultural land, impact pro-ecological action. In addition, age has a significant positive impact on pro-ecological behaviour. Five of the six variables considered have been found to have a significant effect and explain 38% of the variance in pro-ecological behaviour. The study also provides cross-cultural verification of the psychometric properties of the NEP and CN measures. However, we find that the negatively worded items in the instruments create challenges for the factor structure. While generally suggested as a safeguard against bias (or ‘aye saying’), negatively worded items are known to create unclear dimensions during factor analysis. The creation of an NEP measure that is robust across countries is a desirable development and could significantly contribute to a better understanding of drivers and consequences that could ultimately better inform policy decisions.