{"title":"Environmental sustainability from a generational lens—A study comparing generation X, Y, and Z ecological commitment","authors":"Micaela Pinho, Sofia Gomes","doi":"10.1111/basr.12364","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Environmental sustainability is increasingly pressing. Achieving it depends on the contribution of all of us. There is a broad spectrum of evidence that points to a generational gap in the way of viewing and dealing with environmental issues. This evidence is, however, mixed. This paper intends to explore whether there are differences between the Portuguese Generations X, Y, and Z about general environmental concerns, their involvement in collective actions for environmental protection, and specific pro-environmental behaviors. The data gathered from 757 Portuguese citizens were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric statistical methods. Overall, we found that members of Generation Z showed the least environmental concerns and adopted fewer sustainable behaviors and little or no participation in collective actions for environmental protection. On the contrary, members of Generation X demonstrate more sustainable attitudes, followed by Millennials. In sum, the two younger generations have more in common with each other than they do with members of Generation X. This is the first attempt to understand generational differences in Portugal on specific environmental issues, helping to define policies emphasizing civil society's serious and consistent involvement in protecting the planet. Recommendations of the research enable us to understand the behaviors of individuals from different generations and allow producers and policymakers to develop and adopt measures to meet the specificities of each generation, leading them to adopt more sustainable practices, especially younger people.</p>","PeriodicalId":46747,"journal":{"name":"BUSINESS AND SOCIETY REVIEW","volume":"129 3","pages":"349-372"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"BUSINESS AND SOCIETY REVIEW","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/basr.12364","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"BUSINESS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Environmental sustainability is increasingly pressing. Achieving it depends on the contribution of all of us. There is a broad spectrum of evidence that points to a generational gap in the way of viewing and dealing with environmental issues. This evidence is, however, mixed. This paper intends to explore whether there are differences between the Portuguese Generations X, Y, and Z about general environmental concerns, their involvement in collective actions for environmental protection, and specific pro-environmental behaviors. The data gathered from 757 Portuguese citizens were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric statistical methods. Overall, we found that members of Generation Z showed the least environmental concerns and adopted fewer sustainable behaviors and little or no participation in collective actions for environmental protection. On the contrary, members of Generation X demonstrate more sustainable attitudes, followed by Millennials. In sum, the two younger generations have more in common with each other than they do with members of Generation X. This is the first attempt to understand generational differences in Portugal on specific environmental issues, helping to define policies emphasizing civil society's serious and consistent involvement in protecting the planet. Recommendations of the research enable us to understand the behaviors of individuals from different generations and allow producers and policymakers to develop and adopt measures to meet the specificities of each generation, leading them to adopt more sustainable practices, especially younger people.
环境的可持续发展日益紧迫。实现可持续发展取决于我们所有人的贡献。大量证据表明,在看待和处理环境问题的方式上存在代沟。然而,这些证据参差不齐。本文旨在探讨葡萄牙 X、Y 和 Z 三代人在一般环境问题、参与环境保护集体行动以及具体环保行为方面是否存在差异。我们使用描述性和非参数统计方法对从 757 名葡萄牙公民那里收集到的数据进行了分析。总体而言,我们发现 Z 世代的成员对环境的关注度最低,采取的可持续行为较少,很少或根本没有参与环境保护的集体行动。相反,X 代成员表现出更多的可持续态度,千禧一代紧随其后。总之,年轻的两代人之间的共同点要多于他们与 X 代人之间的共同点。这是首次尝试了解葡京在具体环境问题上的代际差异,有助于制定强调公民社会认真、持续地参与保护地球的政策。研究提出的建议使我们能够了解不同世代的个人行为,使生产者和决策者能够制定和采取符合每一代人特点的措施,引导他们(尤其是年轻人)采取更可持续的做法。
期刊介绍:
Business and Society Review addresses a wide range of ethical issues concerning the relationships between business, society, and the public good. Its contents are of vital concern to business people, academics, and others involved in the contemporary debate about the proper role of business in society. The journal publishes papers from all those working in this important area, including researchers and business professionals, members of the legal profession, government administrators and many others.