Exploring the Impact of Climate Change Literacy on the Pro-Environmental Activities of Management Students

Abstract

Research issues

According to the climate change performance Index, India is at number 10 with a score of 63.98 for the past three years. Even though India stands in the top ten countries, certain research proves that there is low climate change awareness among Indians. In a range of academic domains, the detrimental implications of global climate change are being studied more and more, and this literature covers both natural and human factors that contribute to climate change. Human perception, conduct, and well-being should be heavily incorporated into adaptation and mitigation methods due to the dual roles that humans play in environmental issues—they both produce and are affected by their negative impacts. Policies on climate change have more specifically emphasised the significance of behavioural elements in terms of public concern and people's environmentally connected behaviours in terms of both adaptation to and mitigation of the changing climate. The public must support a policy and show commitment for it to be effectively executed. In this regard, the students play a critical role in addressing climate change through various actions and behaviours. They play a vital role in raising awareness about climate change among their peers, families, and communities. To create awareness, and inspire others, students should have a high level of climate change literacy.

 Research objective

The primary aim of the study reported here is to assess the level of climate change literacy among management students. The study evaluates students' understanding and knowledge regarding the fundamental components of climate change literacy such as scientific basis, effects, causes, mitigation and adaptation measures. This study further analyses the impact of climate change literacy on pro-environmental activities using regression analysis.

Research findings

The study assessed the climate change literacy level of students and found that the majority of them have poor and moderate levels of awareness. The study found that there exists a positive correlation between the perception of climate change and the involvement of students in pro-environmental activities. The majority of the respondents are not engaging in pro-environmental activities and they neither agree nor disagree with the reasons for not engaging themselves in the pro-environmental activities. 

Practical implication

This research has been carried out in a social context by assessing the climate change literacy level of management students. To improve accountability and responsibility among students, educational institutions can include papers related to environmental science in their curricula and conduct workshops to improve their climate change literacy. By improving their climate change literacy levels, students gain abilities to incorporate sustainability and pro-environmental practises into their future professional actions through the study of climate change. By putting this knowledge into practice, students may significantly influence environmental change among their peers, families and communities.