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Who Is Taking Climate Action in University? Drivers of Personal and Professional Climate Action in Higher Education

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Title: Who Is Taking Climate Action in University? Drivers of Personal and Professional Climate Action in Higher Education
Language: English
Authors: Enzo Ferrari, Lorraine Whitmarsh, Paul Haggar, Kaloyan Mitev, Alice Lowe
Source: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 2025 26(9):18-35.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Climate, Conservation (Environment), Predictor Variables, College Faculty, College Students, Behavior, Environmental Education, Research, Experience, Intellectual Disciplines, Knowledge Level, Information Sources, Ecology, Higher Education, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
DOI: 10.1108/IJSHE-08-2023-0392
ISSN: 1467-6370
1758-6739
Abstract: Purpose: Climate change (CC) poses significant risks to society, but there are ways people can address it -- including in their personal and professional lives. One professional context -- higher education -- has a unique role in tackling CC through educating future leaders and researching potential solutions. This study aims to identify the predictors that determine climate action in the university. Design/methodology/approach: The predictors of climate action (including both personal behaviour change and academic subject choice) are examined amongst both university students and staff at a UK university. The authors present the results of an online survey (N = 3,326). Findings: Climate education and research were associated with early and mid-career researchers, years working/studying and academic field, with engineering staff/students most involved. Climate anxiety and awareness of university climate emergency declarations and credible climate information sources significantly explain academic behaviour among students and academics. In addition, activities with substantial carbon footprints, such as driving and eating ruminant meat, could be associated with CC research and teaching. Originality/value: These results highlight the importance of improving climate literacy, and sustainability initiatives within higher education. To address the urgent issues of CC, higher education institutions must integrate climate education, research and sustainable practices.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1497963
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Who Is Taking Climate Action in University? Drivers of Personal and Professional Climate Action in Higher Education
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Enzo+Ferrari%22">Enzo Ferrari</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lorraine+Whitmarsh%22">Lorraine Whitmarsh</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Paul+Haggar%22">Paul Haggar</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kaloyan+Mitev%22">Kaloyan Mitev</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alice+Lowe%22">Alice Lowe</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Sustainability+in+Higher+Education%22"><i>International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 26(9):18-35.
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  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 18
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Climate%22">Climate</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Conservation+%28Environment%29%22">Conservation (Environment)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predictor+Variables%22">Predictor Variables</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Faculty%22">College Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Behavior%22">Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+Education%22">Environmental Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research%22">Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experience%22">Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intellectual+Disciplines%22">Intellectual Disciplines</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Knowledge+Level%22">Knowledge Level</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Sources%22">Information Sources</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecology%22">Ecology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1108/IJSHE-08-2023-0392
– Name: ISSN
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  Data: 1467-6370<br />1758-6739
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: Climate change (CC) poses significant risks to society, but there are ways people can address it -- including in their personal and professional lives. One professional context -- higher education -- has a unique role in tackling CC through educating future leaders and researching potential solutions. This study aims to identify the predictors that determine climate action in the university. Design/methodology/approach: The predictors of climate action (including both personal behaviour change and academic subject choice) are examined amongst both university students and staff at a UK university. The authors present the results of an online survey (N = 3,326). Findings: Climate education and research were associated with early and mid-career researchers, years working/studying and academic field, with engineering staff/students most involved. Climate anxiety and awareness of university climate emergency declarations and credible climate information sources significantly explain academic behaviour among students and academics. In addition, activities with substantial carbon footprints, such as driving and eating ruminant meat, could be associated with CC research and teaching. Originality/value: These results highlight the importance of improving climate literacy, and sustainability initiatives within higher education. To address the urgent issues of CC, higher education institutions must integrate climate education, research and sustainable practices.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1497963
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        Value: 10.1108/IJSHE-08-2023-0392
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 18
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Climate
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Conservation (Environment)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Predictor Variables
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Faculty
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
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      – SubjectFull: Behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Environmental Education
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      – SubjectFull: Research
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      – SubjectFull: Experience
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      – SubjectFull: Intellectual Disciplines
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      – SubjectFull: Knowledge Level
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      – SubjectFull: Information Sources
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      – SubjectFull: Ecology
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      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Who Is Taking Climate Action in University? Drivers of Personal and Professional Climate Action in Higher Education
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              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1467-6370
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              Value: 1758-6739
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