Policies without behavioral results or when environmental policy becomes robust
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59194/MJEE2527289tKeywords:
ecological perceptions, pro-environmental behaviors, behavioral results, environmental policy, BulgariaAbstract
The article focuses on changing individual attitudes and behaviors as key factors for resilient environmental policy. Through representative field studies using a specially designed questionnaire, the subjectively declared levels of ecological perceptions and pro-environmental behaviors of citizens at the national level in Bulgaria and residents of one of the country’s municipalities, which self-identifies as a “green municipality”, were compared. The main research question is whether citizens in a local community, where there is a sustainable agreement on broadly formulated environmental goals and corresponding active pro-environmental policies, demonstrate a greater personal commitment to the environment, materializing in increased levels of knowledge and individual pro-environmental behavior. The main conclusion is that active environmental policy does not necessarily change public attitudes and individual behavior following their goals.
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