Are 'green' landscapes associated with 'green' behaviours? A study into the relationship between urban green space visitation and pro-environmental behaviour in Wellington, New Zealand

With global environmental change looming there is a call for urban societies to change behaviours and lead more sustainable lifestyles. However, behaviour change policies have mostly been ineffective with urban society’s weak emotional connection to nature cited as a major barrier. Wilson’s (1986) biophilia hypothesis posits humans have an innate desire to preserve and protect the natural environment programmed into our biological evolution and that exposure to nature fosters this desire. With fifty percent of the world’s population now living in urban environments there is the concern that a reduced contact with nature will further reduce emotional connections to nature and acceptance of pro-environmental behaviour change. Governments worldwide have neglected to incorporate nature exposure into pro-environmental behaviour change policies highlighting the need for empirical evidence to demonstrate a positive relationship between nature exposure and pro-environmental behaviour. This study fills this literature gap. With urban green space acting as the main form of nature contact for many urban residents, urban green space visitation was used as a proxy for nature exposure. Data collected by the Wellington City Council was examined for a relationship between urban green space visitation and pro-environmental behaviour using a series of regression techniques. Regressions restricted to different types of urban green space and pro-environmental behaviours were analysed for significant correlations. Gender, age, income, pride, and quality of life were also examined for moderating effects. A statistically significant relationship was reported between urban green space visitation and pro-environmental behaviour with sports field visitation the weakest predictor. There was no evidence of significant moderation by gender, age, income, pride, or quality of life. My results provide evidence for further research into urban green space expansion and promotion as a behaviour change tool.