Promoting Sustainability Culture among Citizens: A System Dynamic Analysis of the Role of Schools
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.19245/25.05.pij.4.2.6Keywords:
sustainability, system dynamics, behavioural changes, education for sustainable developmentAbstract
This paper concerns the issue of how to promote sustainable behaviours among citizens and consumers, that is increasingly viewed as crucial to tackle global social and environmental problems. More in detail, it investigates the potential role of schools at all levels, from kinder garden to university, in their relation to (mainly) local stakeholders. The study aims at shedding light on potential diffusion dynamics of sustainable behaviour among individuals when schools, universities and other stakeholders are involved. To do so, we develop a simple system dynamics model, that is an approach that is well suited to model non-linear dynamics, interdependencies, and time lags typical of human decision processes and behaviour. The model proposed is a first preliminary attempt to highlight the system effects that could be triggered by active sustainability projects in schools. The variables included in the model and the data are taken from an action-research project ‘Sustainability Labs’ that is being carried out in a set of schools in the Milan (Italy) area. Results suggest that taking advantage of the school-university-local stakeholder triad is able to reach many people and in quite an engaging way that is likely to have interesting results in terms of behavioural change.
References
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Murray, J.D. (2002), Mathematical Biology: An Introduction (3rd edn.), New York (NY): Springer-Verlag.
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Rieckmann, M. (2012), “Future-Oriented Higher Education: Which Key Competencies Should Be Fostered through University Teaching and Learning?”, Futures, 44 (2): 127–135.
Sibbel, A. (2009), “Pathways Towards Sustainability through Higher Education”, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 10 (1): 68–82.
Steg, L., and Vlek, C. (2009), “Encouraging Pro-Environmental Behaviour: An Integrative Review and Research Agenda”, Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29 (3): 309–317.
Sterman, J. (2000), Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World, Boston (MA): Irwin/McGraw Hill.
Sunstein, C.R. (2013), “Behavioral Economics, Consumption, and Environmental Protection”, SSRN Electronic Journal: 1-29. Available online at http://www.ssrn.com/abstract=2296015 (last accessed: April 15, 2019).
Testa, F., Iraldo, F., Vaccari, A., and Ferrari, E. (2015), “Why Eco-Labels Can Be Effective Marketing Tools: Evidence from a Study on Italian Consumers”, Business Strategy and the Environment, 24 (4): 252–265.
Thaler, R., and Sunstein, C. (2008), Nudge: The Gentle Power of Choice Architecture, New Haven (CT): Yale University Press.
Urban, J., and Ščasný, M. (2012), “Exploring Domestic Energy-Saving: The Role of Environmental Concern and Background Variables”, Energy Policy, 47: 69–80.
Vermeir, I., and Verbeke, W. (2006), “Sustainable Food Consumption: Exploring the Consumer ‘Attitude-Behavioral Intention’ Gap”, Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 19 (2): 169–194.
Verplanken, B., and Aarts, H. (1999), “Habit, Attitude, and Planned Behaviour: Is Habit an Empty Construct or an Interesting Case of Goal-Directed Automaticity?”, European Review of Social Psychology, 10 (1): 101–134.
Aguirre-Bielschowsky, I., Lawson, R., Stephenson, J., and Todd, S. (2018), “Kids and Kilowatts: Socialisation, Energy Efficiency, and Electricity Consumption in New Zealand”, Energy Research & Social Science, 44: 178–186.
Ajzen, I. (1991), “The Theory of Planned Behavior”, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50 (2):179–211.
Ajzen, I. (2011), “The Theory of Planned Behaviour: Reactions and Reflections”, Psychology & Health, 26 (9): 1113–1127.
Alcott, H. (2011), "Social Norms and Energy Conservation”, Journal of Public Economics 95 (9–10):1082-1095.
Arvola, A., Vassallo, M., Dean, M., Lampila, P., Saba, A., Lähteenmäki, L., and Shepherd, R. (2008), “Predicting Intentions to Purchase Organic Food: The Role of Affective and Moral Attitudes in the Theory of Planned Behaviour”, Appetite, 50 (2): 443–454.
Bass, F.M. (1969), “A New Product Growth for Model Consumer Durables”, Management Science, 15 (5): 215–227.
Boccaletti, S. (2008), “Environmentally Responsible Food Choice”, in I. Ferrara and Serret Y. (eds), Household Behaviour and the Environment Reviewing the Evidence, 117–152, Paris: OECD.
Bremer, M.H., and López-Franco, R. (2006), “Sustainable Development: Ten Years of Experience at Itesm’s Graduate Level”, Journal of Cleaner Production, 14 (9–11): 952–957.
Daniels, S., Glorieux, I., Minnen, J., van Tienoven, T.P., and Weenas, D. (2015), “Convenience on the Menu? A Typological Conceptualization of Family Food Expenditures and Food-Related Time Patterns”, Social Science Research, 51: 205–218.
Darby, S. (2010), “Smart Metering: What Potential for Householder Engagement?”, Building Research & Information, 38 (5): 442–457.
Darby, S. (2006), The Effectiveness of Feedback on Energy Consumption: A Review for DEFRA of the Literature on Metering, Billing and Direct Displays, Oxford: Oxford Environmental Change Institute.
De Groot, J., and Steg, L. (2007), “General Beliefs and the Theory of Planned Behavior: The Role of Environmental Concerns in the TPB”, Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 37 (8): 1817–1836.
Drichoutis, A.C., Lazaridis, P., and Nayga Jr., R.M. (2006), “Consumers’ Use of Nutritional Labels: A Review of Research Studies and Issues”, Academy of Marketing Science Review, 9 (9): 1-22.
D’Souza, C., Taghian, M., Lamb, P., and Peretiatko, R. (2007), “Green Decisions: Demographics and Consumer Understanding of Environmental Labels”, International Journal of Consumer Studies, 31 (4): 371–376.
Eberlein, R.L., and Peterson, D.W. (1992), “Understanding Models with VensimTM”, European Journal of Operational Research, 59 (1): 216–219.
Eden, S., Bear, C., and Walker, G. (2008), “Understanding and (Dis)Trusting Food Assurance Schemes: Consumer Confidence and the ‘Knowledge Fix’”, Journal of Rural Studies, 24 (1): 1–14.
European Commission (2014), Special Eurobarometer 416: Attitudes of European Citizens Towards the Environment, Brussels: European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV). Available online at http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_416_en.pdf (last accessed: April 15, 2019).
Evans, D. (2011), “Consuming Conventions: Sustainable Consumption, Ecological Citizenship and the Worlds of Worth”, Journal of Rural Studies, 27 (2): 109–115.
Forrester, J.W. (1961), Industrial Dynamics, Cambridge (MA): MIT Press.
Forrester, J.W. (2007), “System Dynamics: A Personal View of the First Fifty Years”, System Dynamics Review: The Journal of the System Dynamics Society, 23 (2-3): 345–358.
Gilg, A., Barr, S., and Ford., N. (2005), “Green Consumption or Sustainable Lifestyles? Identifying the Sustainable Consumer”, Futures, 37 (6): 481–504.
Hartmann, P., and Apaolaza-Ibáñez, V. (2012), “Consumer Attitude and Purchase Intention toward Green Energy Brands: The Roles of Psychological Benefits and Environmental Concern”, Journal of Business Research, 65 (9): 1254–1263.
Kühtz, S. (2007), “Adoption of Sustainable Development Schemes and Behaviours in Italy: Barriers and Solutions – What Can Educators Do?”, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 8 (2): 155–169.
Kurz, T., Gardner, B., Verplanken, B., and Abraham, C. (2015), “Habitual Behaviors or Patterns of Practice? Explaining and Changing Repetitive Climate-Relevant Actions”, Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 6 (1): 113–128.
Lozano, R., Lukman, R., Lozano, F.J., Huisingh, D., and Lambrechts, W. (2013), “Declarations for Sustainability in Higher Education: Becoming Better Leaders, through Addressing the University System”, Journal of Cleaner Production, 48: 10–19.
Meadows, D.H. (2008), Thinking in Systems: A Primer, Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing.
Mella, P. (2012), Systems Thinking: Intelligence in Action, Heidelberg: Springer Science & Business Media.
Murray, J.D. (2002), Mathematical Biology: An Introduction (3rd edn.), New York (NY): Springer-Verlag.
Pedersen, E.R., and Neergaard, P. (2006a), “Caveat Emptor – Let the Buyer Beware! Environmental Labelling and the Limitations of ‘Green’ Consumerism”, Business Strategy and the Environment, 15 (1): 15–29.
Pongiglione, F., and Cherlet, J. (2015), “The Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Climate Change: Fundamental but Disregarded?”, Journal for General Philosophy of Science, 46 (2): 383–391.
Ricci, E.C. (2013), “Smart-Grids and Climate Change. Consumer Adoption of Smart Energy Behaviour: A System Dynamics Approach to Evaluate the Mitigation Potential”, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Series, Nota di Lavoro, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
Ricci, E.C., and Banterle, A. (2018), “The Effects of Expo Milano 2015 on Consumer Food Choices”, Economia Agro-Alimentare, 20 (2): 233–244.
Richardson, G.P. (2011), “Reflections on the Foundations of System Dynamics”, System Dynamics Review, 27 (3): 219–243.
Rieckmann, M. (2012), “Future-Oriented Higher Education: Which Key Competencies Should Be Fostered through University Teaching and Learning?”, Futures, 44 (2): 127–135.
Sibbel, A. (2009), “Pathways Towards Sustainability through Higher Education”, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 10 (1): 68–82.
Steg, L., and Vlek, C. (2009), “Encouraging Pro-Environmental Behaviour: An Integrative Review and Research Agenda”, Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29 (3): 309–317.
Sterman, J. (2000), Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World, Boston (MA): Irwin/McGraw Hill.
Sunstein, C.R. (2013), “Behavioral Economics, Consumption, and Environmental Protection”, SSRN Electronic Journal: 1-29. Available online at http://www.ssrn.com/abstract=2296015 (last accessed: April 15, 2019).
Testa, F., Iraldo, F., Vaccari, A., and Ferrari, E. (2015), “Why Eco-Labels Can Be Effective Marketing Tools: Evidence from a Study on Italian Consumers”, Business Strategy and the Environment, 24 (4): 252–265.
Thaler, R., and Sunstein, C. (2008), Nudge: The Gentle Power of Choice Architecture, New Haven (CT): Yale University Press.
Urban, J., and Ščasný, M. (2012), “Exploring Domestic Energy-Saving: The Role of Environmental Concern and Background Variables”, Energy Policy, 47: 69–80.
Vermeir, I., and Verbeke, W. (2006), “Sustainable Food Consumption: Exploring the Consumer ‘Attitude-Behavioral Intention’ Gap”, Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 19 (2): 169–194.
Verplanken, B., and Aarts, H. (1999), “Habit, Attitude, and Planned Behaviour: Is Habit an Empty Construct or an Interesting Case of Goal-Directed Automaticity?”, European Review of Social Psychology, 10 (1): 101–134.
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Published
2020-02-17
How to Cite
Ricci, E. C. (2020). Promoting Sustainability Culture among Citizens: A System Dynamic Analysis of the Role of Schools. PuntOorg International Journal, 4(2), 141–155. https://doi.org/10.19245/25.05.pij.4.2.6
