Environmental citizenship : attitudes and action in postsecondary education

This thesis was completed and submitted at Nipissing University, and is made freely accessible through the University of Toronto’s TSpace repositoryResearch in environmental citizenship requires a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach to examining human behavior, both from a civic engagement perspective, as well as examining environmental worldviews and affinities. This thesis is an exploratory investigation of the environmental citizenship prevalent among undergraduate students (n=158) enrolled at Nipissing University in Ontario, Canada, during the 2014-2015 academic year. Using the Environmental Citizenship Framework of Berkowitz, Ford, and Brewer (2005), a survey questionnaire was developed and distributed electronically to a randomized sample (N=1500) of students enrolled at Nipissing University. Several variables that align to the Framework's spheres of ecological literacy, civics literacy, values awareness, self-efficacy, and practical wisdom were tested for any statistical significance to examine respondent behaviour and participation in civic activities, ecological behaviour, and environmental worldviews among the student population. Further to the examination of environmental worldviews, the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale is a single measurement tool that dates back to the early 1980s to measure environmental attitudes, beliefs, and worldviews (Dunlap et al., 2000; Dunlap & McCright, 2008; Pienaar et al., 2015). The tool's 15 value statements are coded and a total sum is then produced within a range of 15 to 75. The results suggest that Nipissing University undergraduate students, overall, demonstrate pro-ecological tendencies and are engaging in new and emerging forms of civic participation. Since environmental youth movements continue to seek positive social change and justice, this understanding of the motivating factors behind these movements can influence policy changes and direction.M.E.S