Explaining and Improving the Adoption of Voluntary Environmental Programs: A Social Cognition-Based View on Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation

Abstract

Voluntary Environmental Programs (VEPs) targeted at businesses are increasingly used as environmental and energy policy instruments. Numerous studies have focused on technological, economic, political, social and cultural factors that influence the success of a program. However, academic research and policy analysis have mostly focused on the impact and efficiency of programs while processes of VEP adoption and implementation that explain outcomes have been neglected to some extent. Recently, a growing body of research on environment and energy related behaviors has manifested. The study of factors influencing adoption behavior can contribute significantly to the understanding of VEP acceptance at the individual, organizational and societal level. In addition, limitations to voluntary program design and evaluation can be reduced by the application of behavioral and theory-based program planning. Social cognition models from social psychology and the technology acceptance literature show great potential to improve systematic understanding of VEP adoption behavior and enhance existing program design and evaluation methods. The present article adds to the existing academic literature and evaluation practice by reviewing social cognition-based models to further knowledge regarding VEP design, implementation and evaluation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Sustainable Development is the property of Canadian Center of Science & Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)