Environmental Attitudes

IntegratED Symposium on SustainabilitySarah Vitulano, Louise Delaigue, Marie-Lisa Jolin Bill Chatzopulos, Marc-Antoine Tutt-Guerette

Live Experiment1. True or False:- We are approaching the limit of the number of people the

Earth can support.- Humans have the right to modify the natural environment

to suit their needs.- When humans interfere with nature it often produces

disastrous consequences.- Human ingenuity will insure that we do not make the

Earth unlivable.

2. Choose what you like best to write: pen or pencil?

How to approach sustainability issues- Thomas Heberlein: Navigating Environmental

Attitudes- Attitudes and behaviors are key influences- Cognitive fix vs. Structural fix- What are attitudes and behaviors?

Attitudes and behaviors- Attitudes cannot be seen. Individual’s

disposition towards something.- Behaviors can be seen. Their manner of

conducting themselves towards something.- Attitudes do not necessarily reflect behaviour.- Can be crudely contrasted as “thinking vs.

doing”

Goal- Understanding human psychology towards the

environment- To raise awareness of aforementioned

techniques- To apply these techniques at Concordia and

expose a possible idea to increase our sustainability

Cognitive Fix- Educating the public in hope that attitudes will

change and influence behavior

Pro-Environmental Attitudes

- Exxon Mine- Smoking cigarettes- Studying

Anti Exxon Rally March 1994

Education is important but it’s not enough to influence pro-environmental attitudes to pro-environmental behaviors. Ex: We know recycling is important & is a great tool to being sustainably proactive (pro-environmental attitudes) however this information has not made everyone recycle or recycle all items that are recyclable (pro-environmental behavior).

Cognitive Fix example

What is the Structural Fix?

- Changes the social environment that influences what people do

- Focuses on context or setting to change human behavior

Advantages- Does not focus on attitude change as the driver

of behavioral change

- Can produce results by changing behavior- Effective structural fixes designed with attitudes

take advantage of social contexts

Disadvantages- Does not influence attitudes

- Many Structural Fixes require gaining support and changing behaviors of people in charge which can be difficult initially

Example from Heberlein- Graduate student replaced plastic foam cups

with biodegradable paper cups and a rack for China cups at an employee coffee room

changed behavior of people without asking them to do it

after student graduated, the plastic foam cups returned & attitudes never changed

Example- Reducing plastic waste and electricity usage on

campus by removing vending machines (new contract to be awarded on April 15th)

Structural fixes work!

Fixes and Sustainability?

Concordia University’s sustainable future

- Concordia Travel Mug Renting Service- Library Policy- No need to use disposable cups anymore!

Results: greener footprint!

Conclusion- Results- Structural Fixes are the most efficient strategies

in the short term- Understanding human psychology and the

interdisciplinary factor is important

References- Heberlein, T. (2012). Navigating environmental

attitudes. New York: Oxford University Press.- Anderson, M. (2012). New Ecological Paradigm

(NEP) Scale. Berkshire.- Picture: River Biya, Russia – Dmitri Melnikov