Sustainability Values, Attitudes, and Behaviors: A Review of Multinational and Global Trends

Abstract

This review analyzes five efforts to define sustainability values, including the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the Earth Charter, the UN Millennium Declaration, and the Global Scenario Group. It then summarizes empirical trends in sustainability values, attitudes, and behaviors, as measured by multinational and global-scale surveys, related to human and economic development, the environment, and driving forces (population, affluence, technology, and entitlements). The review also summarizes empirical trends related to the values identified by the Millennium Declaration as essential to international relations (e.g., freedom and democracy, equality and shared responsibility), and broader contextual values (e.g., capitalism, globalization, institutional trust, and social change) that have sustainability implications. It then identifies several important attitude-behavior gaps and barriers. Finally this review draws several conclusions regarding future research needs and the value, attitude, and behavioral change needed to achieve sustainability.

Energy-Using Durables – Why Consumers Refrain from Economically Optimal Choices

“…Furthermore, even the societal advantage of buying more energy-efficient durables and making a contribution to the mitigation of climate change seems not to incentivize decision makers for compiling more information to compare the different types of a specific product like, for instance, a fridge. The negative consequences of global warming appear very distant to many people, in terms of geography as well as in terms of time; the issues seem to be intangible and unimaginable and hence unimportant for many decision makers (Leiserowitz et al, 2006;Lorenzoni and Pidgeon, 2006;Leiserowitz, 2007;Lorenzoni et al, 2007). Yet, one could argue that private households should not actively search for information but should be provided -and in fact are provided -with the relevant information by suppliers, agencies, utilities, etc.…”

Sustainable landscape development and value rigidity: the Pirsig‘s monkey trap

“…However, there are some barriers that enhance such trapped situations and impede the transition of values into concrete actions for the achievement of sustainability (Blake 1999;Kollmuss and Agyeman 2002;Leiserowitz et al 2006), and the strength of a particular value could also affect the real attainment of a sustainability goal. Thus, it is clear that significant changes in human values and priorities are required to achieve sustainability.…”

“…Various statements supporting sustainability are all expressions of values, such as the Millennium Declaration that is an explicit statement founded on a core set of important values that are essential to international relations: freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature, and shared responsibility. Abstract values, such as peace, freedom, equity, justice, are of great importance to humanity, because they suggest essential principles for societies that guide our current actions and shape our vision for the future (Wu 2013) and explain the motivational bases of attitudes and behavior (Rokeach 1979;Karp 1996;Rohan 2000;Bardi and Schwartz 2003;Leiserowitz et al 2006). The Schwartz's value theory (Schwartz 1992) provides one of the most widely cited value frameworks identifying ten universal values (power, achievement, hedonism, stimulation, self-direction, universalism, benevolence, conformity, tradition, security) according to the motivation that underlies each of them.…”

A fuzzy set model for assessment of a perspectives level for integration of new materials in industrial enterprise processes

“…Leiserowitz [5] wrote about the relationship between sustainable production and consumption, and achievement of the corresponding long-term economic, social and environmental result. Thogersen [6], Peattie & Collins [7] noted the risks and dissonances of this process, while revealing contradictions between the values and their implementation declared by the companies.…”