Egyptian public’s concern for global warming. The influence of post-materialism, religiosity, political orientation, and locus of control
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/WJSTSD-07-2015-0039 |
| Date | 04 January 2016 |
| Published date | 04 January 2016 |
| Pages | 31-45 |
| Author | Mohamed Mostafa |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management,Environmental technology & innovation |
Egyptian public’s concern
for global warming
The influence of post-materialism, religiosity,
political orientation, and locus of control
Mohamed Mostafa
Gulf University for Science and Technology, West Mishref, Kuwait
Abstract
Purpose –Despite the growing scientific evidence regarding risks caused by global warming and
climate change, virtually no studies have been conducted to investigate general public’s attitudes
toward this phenomenon in a non-Western context. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors
influencing concern for global warming in a representative sample of 2,551 respondents in Egypt.
Design/methodology/approach –The study uses logistic and Bayesian logistic regression
modeling techniques to test the influence of post-materialistic tendencies, religiosity, political
orientation and locus of control on concern for global warming in Egypt.
Findings –Results contradict the post-materialist hypothesis and show that concern for global
warming is driven by religiosity, political orientation and internal locus of control.
Originality/value –The findings highlight the importance of investigating the specificity of global
warming and environmental concern in a non-Western context.
Keywords Climate change, Egypt, Sustainable development, Global warming, Religiosity,
Locus of control, Post-materialism, Political orientation, Bayesian analysis
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Global warming has been widely recognized as an international problem as it was
linked directly to climate change across the globe (Shi et al., 2010). Anthropogenic
climate change is caused by human activities ranging from transportation an d
electricity consumption to the breeding of livestock (Schmidt et al., 2013). Borick and
Rabe (2010, p. 777) argue that there is a “growing belief that the climate is changing,
and higher levels of concern regarding the impact that this phenomenon will have on
the planet.”Some authors have even claimed that concern for global warming has
become a social norm (Takas-Santa, 2007). Public concern for global warming has risen
across nations and a strong support for initiative aiming at reversing the trend has
been reported by several authors (e.g. Capstick and Pidgeon, 2014). Whitmarsh (2009)
argued that investigating public attitudes toward global warming and informing the
public about it is considered the basic prerequisite for informed public decision-making
process regarding climate change. Shiva (2008) suggests that the mitigation of the
global warming problem can only occur with a change in all aspects of human life,
including the way we shop, move, live and eat.
With the notable exceptions of Mostafa (2007) and Goksen et al. (2002), the majority of
studies exploring global warming and environmental concern have largely ignored Arab
and Islamic nations. Previous research focussed on countries as diverse as the USA
(Dunlap et al., 2000), Britain (Norris, 1997), Israel (Drori and Yuchtman-Yaar, 2002), Canada
(Edgell and Nowell, 1989), Norway (Olli et al., 2001), Korea (Kim, 1999) and Australia.
However, because environmental concern is ultimately based on the motivations and
World Journal of Science,
Technology and Sustainable
Development
Vol. 13 No. 1, 2016
pp. 31-45
©Emerald Group Publis hing Limited
2042-5945
DOI 10.1108/WJSTSD-07-2015-0039
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5945.htm
31
Global
warming
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