Culture and the natural environment

The way individuals relate to the natural environment is culturally patterned. In this article we review and discuss cross-cultural differences and similarities in a number of important domains including environmental concern, environmental risk perception, and pro-environmental behaviour. Three possible psychological universals (future thinking, self-transcendent orientation, and psychological distance) in association with pro-environmental attitudes and behaviour are proposed, and cultural variations are also discussed. We highlight evidence - including new analyses of cross-cultural data - indicating that an overwhelming majority of the world's population supports environmental protection, and identifies with the value of 'looking after the environment.'