The Gap between Declared and Practiced Environmentalism: A Quantitative Comparison of Sustainable Opinions and Behaviors Among Citizens in Spain and Neighbour Countries.
The Gap between Declared and Practiced Environmentalism: A Quantitative Comparison of Sustainable Opinions and Behaviors Among Citizens in Spain and Neighbour Countries.
Thursday, 10 July 2025
Location: SJES031 (Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences (JES))
Distributed Paper
Surveys from Spanish and international official organizations reveal a growing environmental concern among citizens that does not translate into sustainable behaviors in daily life, both in the domestic and public spheres. This disconnection between discourse and practice persists despite the evident effects of climate change, which have led to some legislative changes and measures to promote sustainable behaviors among the population.
Since the term "environmental concern" was coined by Dunlap and Liere (1978), this phenomenon has been widely studied, with research now focusing not only on quantifying the degree of concern but also on assessing the population's willingness to act, introducing the concept of "environmental sensitivity" (Dunlap and Jones, 2002). This conceptual shift implies a willingness to act in response to environmental concerns, leading to a focus on the materialization of these attitudes into practices and habits.
Valencia et al. (2010) reformulated "ecological citizenship" as a variable commitment across moral, domestic, and public spheres, emphasizing citizens' obligations toward sustainability. Although Spanish society excels in the moral sphere, this is not reflected in the domestic and public spheres. This suggests that environmental commitment is expressed more rhetorically than in concrete actions, revealing a significant gap between declared values and practiced behaviors.
The overall aim of the present study is to provide plausible explanations for this gap. Two specific objectives were established: 1) to quantify the size of this gap over time and compare it with other countries in the region; and 2) to formulate and contrast various hypotheses about its causes, such as social desirability. The results point to perceived priorities, individualism, and a lack of incentives for collective action as explanatory factors.
Since the term "environmental concern" was coined by Dunlap and Liere (1978), this phenomenon has been widely studied, with research now focusing not only on quantifying the degree of concern but also on assessing the population's willingness to act, introducing the concept of "environmental sensitivity" (Dunlap and Jones, 2002). This conceptual shift implies a willingness to act in response to environmental concerns, leading to a focus on the materialization of these attitudes into practices and habits.
Valencia et al. (2010) reformulated "ecological citizenship" as a variable commitment across moral, domestic, and public spheres, emphasizing citizens' obligations toward sustainability. Although Spanish society excels in the moral sphere, this is not reflected in the domestic and public spheres. This suggests that environmental commitment is expressed more rhetorically than in concrete actions, revealing a significant gap between declared values and practiced behaviors.
The overall aim of the present study is to provide plausible explanations for this gap. Two specific objectives were established: 1) to quantify the size of this gap over time and compare it with other countries in the region; and 2) to formulate and contrast various hypotheses about its causes, such as social desirability. The results point to perceived priorities, individualism, and a lack of incentives for collective action as explanatory factors.