Nepalese Adolescent’s Environmental Discourses

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of gender, residential background, education, age and income on the environmental attitudes and behaviours of people. The data were gathered from 200 residents of Kirtipur, chosen randomly and were interviewed face to face. Student’s t-test and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyse the changes in the environmental attitudes and behaviours of people in terms of gender, residential background, education, age and income. The results of the study showed that most of the people have realized their own responsibility in protecting environment and recognized the importance of environmental protection over economic development, and reduction in water consumption and turning off lights are most frequently practiced environmentally responsible behaviours. It also emerged from the study that environmental attitude and behaviour are under the influence of various socio-demographic variables; and pro-environmental attitudes can only be translated into environmentally responsible behaviours in low cost situation in context of developing country. The study also puts forth an open discourse about instilling ‘environmental fashion culture’ among younger generation people.