Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T23:15:01.675Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Is Sustainability a Breakfast Cereal? Public Program Based Research into Community Understandings of Sustainability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2015

Lynette C. McLoughlin*
Affiliation:
Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW)
*
Community Education Section, Sustainability Programs Division, Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW), PO Box 644, Parramatta, NSW 2124, Australia. Email: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

What meanings and values does the community (the general public) attach to the term “sustainability”? As this complex concept is widely used in academic, political and policy arenas and gradually becomes embedded at institutional level, it is possible that the community does not share the understandings of sustainability that are guiding developments in many spheres which affect their lives. Use of terminology at policy level which is unfamiliar to the community is not unusual, so does it matter in the case of “sustainability”? This paper reviews research, both qualitative and quantitative, undertaken between 2000 and 2004 for the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation in the context of development of a sustainability education program known as Our Environment: It's a Living Thing. This research both explored understanding and concepts of sustainability and developed a community segmentation on the basis of environmental knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. The implications of this research for future research and for programs aimed at developing community understanding of, and commitment to, sustainability are also discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

References

Agyeman, J. (2000). Local sustainability: Balancing quality and equality. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 15/16, 17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Black, A. W. (2004). The quest for sustainable, healthy communities. Australian Journal ofEnvironmental Education, 20(1), 3344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowers, C.A. (1997). The cultural dimensions of ecological literacy. Journal of Environmental Education, 27(2), 510.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowers, C. (2001). How language limits our understanding of environmental education. Environmental Education Research, 7(2), 141151.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Council ofAustralian Governments (COAG) (1992). National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.Google Scholar
Research, Dangar (2001). “It's a living thing” qualitative evaluation of the advertising campaign. Sydney: Dangar Research Group for the NSW Environment Protection Authority.Google Scholar
Darnton, A. (2004a). The impact of sustainable development on public behaviour. Report 1 of Desk Research commissioned by COI on behalf of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. UK: Andrew Darnton Research and Analysis.Google Scholar
Darnton, A. (2004b). Driving public behaviours for sustainable lifestyles. Report 2 of Desk Research commissioned by COlon behalf of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. UK: Andrew Darnton Research and Analysis.Google Scholar
Darnton, A. (2004c). Summaries of sources. Report 3 of Desk Research commissioned by COlon behalf of Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. UK: Andrew Darnton Research and Analysis.Google Scholar
Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) (DEC) (2004). Who cares about the environment in 2003? Sydney: Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW).Google Scholar
Donnelly, D. (2004). Sustainable living campaign '04. Sydney: Instinct and Reason for the Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW).Google Scholar
Evans, G. (2004, 02). How can we know if a place-based sustainability project makes a difference?Effective Sustainability Education: What Works? Why? Where next? Linking Research and Practice. Paper presented at the Conference of NSW Council on Environmental Education. Sydney: University of NSW.Google Scholar
Fien, J., & Tilbury, D. (2002). The global challenge of sustainability. In Tilbury, D., Stevenson, R., Fien, J. & Schreuder, D. (Eds.), Education and sustainability: Responding to the global challenge. Gland, Switzerland: Commission on Education and Communication, IUCN.Google Scholar
Finlayson, A. (1999). Language. In Ashe, F., Finlayson, A., Lloyd, M., McKenzie, I., Martin, J., J. & O'Neill, S. (Eds.), Contemporary Social and Political Theory (pp. 4769). Buckingham, Philadelphia: Open University Press.Google Scholar
Herremans, I. M., & Reid, R. E. (2002). Developing awareness of the sustainability concept. The Journal of Environmental Education, 34(1), 1620.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jensen, B. B. (2002). Knowledge, action and pro-environmental behaviour. Environmental Education Research, 8(3), 325334.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kollmus, A., & Ageyman, J. (2002). Mind the gap: why do people act environmentally and whatarethe barriersto pro-environmental behavior? Environmental Education Research, 8(3), 239260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Macnaghten, P., Grove-White, R., Jacobs, M., & Wynne, B. (1995). Public perceptions and sustainability in Lancashire: Indicators, institutions, participation. Report to Lancashire County Council. Lancaster IEPPP, Lancaster University.Google Scholar
McKenzie-Mohr, D., & Smith, W. (1999). Fostering sustainable behavior: an introduction to community-based social marketing. Gabriola Island, B.C. Canada: New Society Publishers.Google Scholar
NSW Council on Environmental Education (2002). Learning for sustainability NSW Environmental Education Action Plan 2002–05. Sydney: NSW Council on Environmental Education.Google Scholar
NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) (2001). Framework document for the Our Environment- It's a Living Thing Campaign. Sydney: NSW Environment Protection Authority.Google Scholar
Palmer, J., & Birch, J. C. (2003). Educationfor sustainability: the contribution ofa non-governmental organisation. Environmental Education Research, 9(4), 447460.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reid, A., & Gough, S. (2000). Guidelines for reporting and valuating qualitative research: what are the alternatives? Environmental Education Research, 6(1), 5991.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sofres, Taylor Nelson (2000). “It's a Necessity” a review of community perceptions and understanding of sustainability. Sydney: Taylor Nelson Sofres for the NSW Environment Protection Authority.Google Scholar
Woolcott Research (2003). An investigation of community perceptions and understandings of “Sustainability” and the “Our Environment – It's a Living Thing” brand. Sydney: Woolcott Research for the NSW Environment Protection Authority.Google Scholar
Woolcott Research (2004). Evaluation of the “Our Environment - It's a Living Thing” Sustainability Campaign - Phase lV. Sydney: Woolcott Research for the NSW Environment Protection Authority.Google Scholar