Understanding Human Behavior in Marine Conservation: Integrating Climate Change Knowledge and Emotion

Minh-Phuong Thi Duong
Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ton Duc Thang University

March 14, 2024

“– In the same field, how can the two sides be so different? […]
– Sir, it’s because our circumstances are different. Our bunch is light and free, while those guys spend all day long worried and guarding their ripe grains. What a terrible waste of time! Beautiful sunny days are for singing, dancing, and chattering away…”

—In “Light and Free”; The Kingfisher Story Collection [1]

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Marine conservation extends beyond the preservation of our oceans and coastlines; it entails understanding human behavior and attitudes toward environmental protection [2,3]. A recent study sheds light on the significance of considering both knowledge and emotion when examining stakeholders’ attitudes and behaviors regarding environmental issues, particularly marine protection [4].

The study delves into how the comprehension of climate change among stakeholders in 42 countries influences their support for initiatives aimed at safeguarding marine ecosystems [5], utilizing the Mindsponge theory [6] and Bayesian Mindsponge Framework (BMF) [7]. The findings reveal that people’s advocacy for marine conservation is influenced by their perception of the benefits of ocean ecosystems in climate change mitigation, their level of climate change knowledge, and their emotional responses to environmental challenges. Notably, the impact of climate change knowledge on support for marine protection varied depending on stakeholders’ emotional connections to climate change [4].



Illustration. Generated by IMG2GO AI Creator.

Recognizing these psychological dynamics is crucial for designing effective conservation strategies. Conservationists can utilize this understanding to customize their communication and outreach efforts, making them more engaging and relevant to diverse stakeholders. Educational campaigns, public outreach initiatives, and pro-environmental programs can employ this understanding to foster greater awareness and support for marine conservation efforts.

In the face of escalating environmental challenges, it is important that we adopt a holistic approach to marine conservation that addresses both cognitive and emotional factors. By empowering stakeholders with knowledge, fostering emotional connections to environmental issues, and promoting a sense of collective responsibility, we can collaboratively work towards building a more sustainable and resilient future for our planet and its invaluable marine ecosystems.

References

[1] Vuong QH. (2022). The Kingfisher Story Collection. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG2NNHY6/

[2] Brennan C, Ashley M, Molloy O. (2019). A system dynamics approach to increasing ocean literacy. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, 452048. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2019.00360/full

[3] Ziervogel G, et al. (2022). Supporting transformative climate adaptation: community-level capacity building and knowledge co-creation in South Africa. Climate Policy, 22(5), 607-622. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14693062.2020.1863180

[4] Nguyen, et al. (2024). In search of value: The intricate impacts of benefit perception, knowledge, and emotion about climate change on marine protection support, Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13412-024-00902-8

[5] Fonseca C, et al. (2023). Survey data of public awareness on climate change and the value of marine and coastal ecosystems. Data in Brief, 47, 108924. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352340923000422

[6] Vuong QH. (2023). Mindsponge Theory. Walter de Gruyter GmbH. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3WHZ2B3

[7] Vuong QH, Nguyen MH, La VP. (2022). The mindsponge and BMF analytics for innovative thinking in social sciences and humanities. Walter de Gruyter GmbH. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4ZK3M74/