Pro-environmental Behavior and Its Ripple Effect

A Secondary Analysis of Questionnaire Data for the Revision of the Basic Environment Plan Sapporo

Abstract

The current study aimed to 1) understand the characteristics of and barriers to pro-environmental behaviors to encourage the behaviors by simultaneously measuring a number of behaviors, and 2) investigate peoples’ expectations of ripple effect by spreading pro-environmental behaviors, which might influence the other policy domains. Overall, the study was designed to inform a revision of the Basic Environment Plan Sapporo (Hokkaido, Japan). Results showed the importance of reducing the laboriousness of, and providing opportunities to engage in, pro-environmental behavior. Furthermore, it was found that perception of ripple effect correlated with pro-environmental behaviors, and all sample, obtained from random sampling citizens, citizen groups and companies, expressed strong expectation to ripple effect..