Assessing the role of perceived values and felt responsibility on pro-environmental behaviours: A comparison across four EU countries

The study aims at providing a better understanding of the main factors leading to environmentally-friendly practices by investigating the relationships among perceived values, felt responsibility, and pro-environmental behaviours. The analysis is performed with reference to four developed European countries France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Based on Eurobarometer data (2017) on the attitudes of Europeans towards the environment, a structural equation modelling approach reveals positive and significant relationships among the three constructs, with interesting cross-country differences. In Italy and the United Kingdom, perceived values are directly associated with pro-environmental behaviour, while in Germany and France, where the cultural European identity appears to be more salient, values provide less guidance for behaviour. These findings may assist policymakers in developing a set of well-designed strategies for strengthening citizens' pro-environmental habits through the reinforcement of values and feeling of responsibility.