Factors influencing Environmental concern and Pro-environmental Behavior among University of Nairobi Students

Abstract

The gap between environmental education or knowledge, awareness and the behaviour that promotes environmental sustainability is an important gap to understand. This study aimed to bring into focus the levels of the variables among individuals i.e., environmental knowledge/ awareness, attitudes, motivations to participate in environmental issues, that affect pro-environmental behaviour amongst university students. Specifically, the objective in this research was to assess the level of environmental awareness, attitude and motivation to participate in pro-environmental issues and examine how these factors affect their pro-environmental behaviour, and in addition, evaluate any significant difference in each of these factors among the various university campuses. This study was conducted in five of the University of Nairobi Campuses in Nairobi, including two of its satellite campuses in Kikuyu and Kabete Campuses targeting a population of 60,038 students. This research used descriptive survey design particularly the comparative case study method. Primary data was collected by administration of questionnaires; a total of 384 questionnaires were successfully administered. In the course of the study questionnaires were issued to students in the five campuses through a stratified probability or random sampling method. The sampling frame for the study was the 60,038 students registered under the year 2019/ 2010. The total number of samples collected was 384 samples, collected through randomly sampling students within the campuses. This study utilized the Chi-Square Test as a quantitative measuring technique to assess the differences in the levels of each independent variable among students within the five campuses. The null hypothesis in the Chi- Square test was that there was no relationship or association or significant difference existing on the categorical variables among students in the five University of Nairobi campuses and that they are independent. The study found the student (65%) had little to no knowledge and awareness on environmental challenges, i.e. the causes and effects of behaviour within the university. Majority were found to be intrinsically motivated to participate in pro-environmental behaviour. The study concluded that students’ awareness and understanding on ecological issues but were not dependent on the student campus, the study also concluded that students had positive attitude towards environmental conservation and intrinsic motivation to participate on environmental issues. The ministry of environment should partner with institutions of higher learning, introduce programs that could help students to interact more with environmental challenges. Institution of higher learning should embrace environmental talks and implement it through students’ leadership to help students have positive attitude towards their involvement on environmental conservation practices; The University of Nairobi can consider having more environmental awareness posters in all buildings in the university campuses, such as those located in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies corridors, this will increase the curiosity to practice pro-environmental behaviour among all students as well as create a sense of personal responsibility to act, further from just being aware. This can help them develop solution to address these challenges. The study also recommends further studies in the area of gender as a factor to pro-environmental behaviour and environmental concerns in a society.