Suchergebnisse

Successfully addressing the environmental crisis requires current generations to change behaviours for the benefit of future generations. Perceptions of responsibility towards future generations have been found to increase pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. Therefore, methods which enhance feelings of responsibility, or intergenerational reciprocity, are central to tackling the environmental crisis. Research shows intergenerational reciprocity can be increased through the process of reflecting on the heroic actions and sacrifices of past generations. However, the impact of reflecting on a negatively framed 'difficult' past remains unknown. Via an online, quasi-experimental questionnaire, this study utilised the context of the ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland, known as 'The Troubles', to explore how reflecting on a difficult past influences pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. The results suggest that reflecting on The Troubles has no effect on pro-environmental attitudes or behaviour. The salience of negative feelings about The Troubles may have supressed the generation of intergenerational reciprocity and environmental concern

Unlike many other countries, Northern Ireland residents do not pay separate water charges and there has been significant political and social controversy about their introduction. Therefore, this paper explores how Northern Ireland residents value access to clean, safe drinking water. Using the open-ended contingent valuation method, 205 adults were asked to provide their annual willingness-to-pay to maintain their current level of service provision, their willingness-to-accept to have it taken away, and their willingness-to-give to ensure similar service provision in a developing country. The results show that the value of clean, safe drinking water to Northern Irish adults is £120 per year, far less than both the real cost of provision, or the nominal amount paid through other combined charging instruments, demonstrating that said level of access to water is significantly undervalued by the Northern Irish people. Education levels and gender were found to be statistically significant predictors of willingness-to-pay and willingness-to-accept, respectively. Participants appeared to value their own access slightly more than that of people in developing countries, but not significantly more. The protest zeros observed throughout this study identified participants' resistance to change. The results suggest introducing water charges in NI will continue to be a fraught process, with significant difficulty accepting rates set.