Greening public organisations: is there room for pro-environmental public servants to participate?

Abstract

Academics are emphasizing the necessity of altering the behaviour of public officials to enhance their ecological efficiency, rather than depending exclusively on technological advancements. The shift in focus has been prompted by the sluggish and ineffective performance of public servants. Governmental organisations in well-developed Western economies have instituted policies with the objective of mitigating the environmental footprint of their activities. In developing economies, although there are no established protocols, public employees possess the capacity to voluntarily engage in diverse environmentally friendly initiatives. The inquiry is approached through the implementation of a theoretical structure that is founded on eco-initiative, environmental commitment, public service motivation (PSM), and organisational citizenship behaviour towards the environment (OCBE). An analysis was conducted on the participation of individual eco-initiatives among 600 employees in the capital city of Indonesia, based on collected data. The purpose was achieved through the utilisation of Structural Equation Modelling. The findings of our study suggest that PSM, environmental commitment, and OCBE are significant predictors of eco-initiative in the public workplace. The discourse underscores the importance of individual employee motivation in self-initiated endeavours that advance effective public service while scrutinizing the impact of formalism which is still highly significant for Indonesians today.