Carbon neutrality cognition, environmental value, and consumption preference of low-carbon products

It is now the mainstream scientific consensus that carbon emissions cause global climate change. Achieving the goal of China’s carbon neutrality is essential for environmental protection and economic sustainable development worldwide. In the above context, this paper aims to explore the carbon neutr...

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Main Authors: Baoku Li, Yafeng Nan, Ruoxi Yao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.979783/full
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author Baoku Li
Yafeng Nan
Ruoxi Yao
author_facet Baoku Li
Yafeng Nan
Ruoxi Yao
author_sort Baoku Li
collection DOAJ
description It is now the mainstream scientific consensus that carbon emissions cause global climate change. Achieving the goal of China’s carbon neutrality is essential for environmental protection and economic sustainable development worldwide. In the above context, this paper aims to explore the carbon neutrality cognition, environmental value, and consumption preference for low-carbon products from the perspective of consumption end. Thus, we built and checked a new conceptual model of consumers’ carbon neutrality cognition and the consumption preference for low-carbon products. The TF-IDF algorithm in machine learning was used to confirm the dimensions of carbon neutrality cognition based on text data collected from an academic database CNKI. Then, we used data from a social investigation (N = 405) to test hypotheses and models using bootstrapping and independent sample t-tests. The results showed that altruistic (β = 0.168, 95% CI: [−0.54514, 0.8819]) and egoistic values (β = −0.066, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [−0.6361, 0.6772]) mediated the impact of carbon neutrality cognition on the consumption of low-carbon products, whereas the egoistic value did not (β = −0.066, 95% CI: [−0.6361, 0.6772]). Additionally, based on the characteristics of current Chinese consumers and the market, we argue for two boundary factors: face consciousness and carbon footprint label. The moderation of face consciousness (Mhigh = 5.395 vs. Mlow = 3.312) and carbon footprint label (Mwith = 6.394 vs. Mwithout = 5.432) were revealed. The empirical results support our conceptual model, and our findings provide insights to policymakers and enterprises regarding people’s carbon neutrality cognition, which will allow them to develop more appropriate policies and sustainable development strategies.
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spelling doaj.art-4840d35564674131a3c8926a628b0b2e2022-12-22T04:02:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2022-09-011010.3389/fenvs.2022.979783979783Carbon neutrality cognition, environmental value, and consumption preference of low-carbon productsBaoku LiYafeng NanRuoxi YaoIt is now the mainstream scientific consensus that carbon emissions cause global climate change. Achieving the goal of China’s carbon neutrality is essential for environmental protection and economic sustainable development worldwide. In the above context, this paper aims to explore the carbon neutrality cognition, environmental value, and consumption preference for low-carbon products from the perspective of consumption end. Thus, we built and checked a new conceptual model of consumers’ carbon neutrality cognition and the consumption preference for low-carbon products. The TF-IDF algorithm in machine learning was used to confirm the dimensions of carbon neutrality cognition based on text data collected from an academic database CNKI. Then, we used data from a social investigation (N = 405) to test hypotheses and models using bootstrapping and independent sample t-tests. The results showed that altruistic (β = 0.168, 95% CI: [−0.54514, 0.8819]) and egoistic values (β = −0.066, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [−0.6361, 0.6772]) mediated the impact of carbon neutrality cognition on the consumption of low-carbon products, whereas the egoistic value did not (β = −0.066, 95% CI: [−0.6361, 0.6772]). Additionally, based on the characteristics of current Chinese consumers and the market, we argue for two boundary factors: face consciousness and carbon footprint label. The moderation of face consciousness (Mhigh = 5.395 vs. Mlow = 3.312) and carbon footprint label (Mwith = 6.394 vs. Mwithout = 5.432) were revealed. The empirical results support our conceptual model, and our findings provide insights to policymakers and enterprises regarding people’s carbon neutrality cognition, which will allow them to develop more appropriate policies and sustainable development strategies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.979783/fullcarbon neutrality cognitionenvironmental valueface consciousnesscarbon footprint labelmachine learning
spellingShingle Baoku Li
Yafeng Nan
Ruoxi Yao
Carbon neutrality cognition, environmental value, and consumption preference of low-carbon products
Frontiers in Environmental Science
carbon neutrality cognition
environmental value
face consciousness
carbon footprint label
machine learning
title Carbon neutrality cognition, environmental value, and consumption preference of low-carbon products
title_full Carbon neutrality cognition, environmental value, and consumption preference of low-carbon products
title_fullStr Carbon neutrality cognition, environmental value, and consumption preference of low-carbon products
title_full_unstemmed Carbon neutrality cognition, environmental value, and consumption preference of low-carbon products
title_short Carbon neutrality cognition, environmental value, and consumption preference of low-carbon products
title_sort carbon neutrality cognition environmental value and consumption preference of low carbon products
topic carbon neutrality cognition
environmental value
face consciousness
carbon footprint label
machine learning
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.979783/full
work_keys_str_mv AT baokuli carbonneutralitycognitionenvironmentalvalueandconsumptionpreferenceoflowcarbonproducts
AT yafengnan carbonneutralitycognitionenvironmentalvalueandconsumptionpreferenceoflowcarbonproducts
AT ruoxiyao carbonneutralitycognitionenvironmentalvalueandconsumptionpreferenceoflowcarbonproducts