TY - JOUR
T1 - The environmental awareness of university students in Beijing, China
AU - WONG, Kenneth K K
N1 - Funding Information:
* Koon-Kwai Wong (kenwong@hkbu.edu.hk) is an Associate Professor in the Geography Department, Hong Kong Baptist University. The author is grateful for a Faculty Research Grant (FRG/97–98/II-32) from the Hong Kong Baptist University to support this study. Gratitude is extended to Professor Guo Zhigang, Director of the Institute of Population Research of the Renmin University of China, who directed the implementation of the survey in Beijing during 1998. An earlier draft of this article was delivered at the Association of American Geographers 97th Annual Conference, held in New York City, NY, in February 2001, and I am grateful for the insightful comments given by the participants.
PY - 2003/8
Y1 - 2003/8
N2 - How people perceive, and behave in response to, environmental problems is important in understanding responses from the individual, group, and societal levels. This paper discusses the findings of a survey that elicited university student perceptions of China's environment and development issues. The findings reveal that university students in Beijing are not single-minded about the pro-growth beliefs and values that are deeply embedded in society. On the whole, students were conscious about the seriousness of environmental problems, both in China and throughout the world. However, they were pessimistic about future environmental conditions. Many students anticipated a decline in environmental quality over the next five years, both in China and the world. The students were also ambivalent about dividing priorities between economic growth and environmental protection. Yet they supported the establishment of more environmental NGOs to exert pressure on the government to protect the environment. Overall, a rising environmental awareness among these young intellectuals would ultimately spark environmental activism in China.
AB - How people perceive, and behave in response to, environmental problems is important in understanding responses from the individual, group, and societal levels. This paper discusses the findings of a survey that elicited university student perceptions of China's environment and development issues. The findings reveal that university students in Beijing are not single-minded about the pro-growth beliefs and values that are deeply embedded in society. On the whole, students were conscious about the seriousness of environmental problems, both in China and throughout the world. However, they were pessimistic about future environmental conditions. Many students anticipated a decline in environmental quality over the next five years, both in China and the world. The students were also ambivalent about dividing priorities between economic growth and environmental protection. Yet they supported the establishment of more environmental NGOs to exert pressure on the government to protect the environment. Overall, a rising environmental awareness among these young intellectuals would ultimately spark environmental activism in China.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037997531&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10670560305472
DO - 10.1080/10670560305472
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0037997531
SN - 1067-0564
VL - 12
SP - 519
EP - 536
JO - Journal of Contemporary China
JF - Journal of Contemporary China
IS - 36
ER -
