Being green in a green capital: Assessing drivers of pro-environmental behaviors in Copenhagen
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2022
Abstract
What makes one green in a green capital? Previous research on actions to combat climate change using large national samples identifies how socio-demographic attributes and attitudes and belief profiles condition an individual's propensity to take actions to improve the environment. Our approach investigates a smaller and more specific context – Copenhagen, Denmark – to unlock pathways that animate individuals to combat climate change in a city considered to be one of the world's greenest. Using a survey of approximately 1000 Copenhageners, we compare socio-demographic characteristics with attitudinal and belief profiles to see how each explanation predicts four pro-environmental behaviors. We find that attitudes and beliefs, especially with environmental concern and political ideology, tend to be more associated with pro-environmental behaviors compared to socio-demographic characteristics. We conclude by discussing how even in the context of a green capital, familiar pathways to pro-environmental actions are found.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Cities
Recommended Citation
Smiley, K., Chen, Y., & Shao, W. (2022). Being green in a green capital: Assessing drivers of pro-environmental behaviors in Copenhagen. Cities, 122 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2021.103538