Determinants of Household Pro-Environmental Practices: An Application of Australian Survey Data

Abstract

The decision by individuals and households to undertake recycling and to adopt green technology is driven by a large array of factors. Understanding the role of these factors is in turn important for developing appropriate green policies and in enacting sustainable and efficient education and information campaigns. The main aim of this chapter is to outline the factors impacting on pro-environmental behavior of a sample of Australian households. Using data drawn from a survey undertaken across the State of Queensland, the chapter will consider how a factors such as socio-economic background, beliefs around climate change, previous exposure to environmental hazards, and beliefs about individual and government abilities to determine outcomes help explain patterns of pro-environmental behavior in various settings.