Analysis of factors affecting the environmental citizenship behavior of Ardabil residents

The low level of environmental citizenship behaviors among citizens has exacerbated the urban environmental problems. Recent research shows that residents of some Iranian cities do not actively participate in environmentally friendly behaviors. Like other cities, Ardabil faces special environmental problems and low participation of residents in environmentally friendly behaviors. High-rate urban development has created special environmental consequences for cities such as Ardabil, forcing city managers to adopt appropriate environmental policies to reduce the negative effects of population growth. On the other hand, due to the fact that environmental problems are increasing, environmental protection requires appropriate environmental behavior. Iranian cities also face several challenges that make it necessary to review the policy of urban management and pay attention to the management of environmental behaviors of residents, especially in cities such as Ardabil that have experienced a short period of extensive urban development. Accordingly, examining the factors affecting the environmental citizenship behavior of the residents of this city can help planners and policy makers to make better and more effective decisions. Based on this perspective, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of spatial attachment, trust and mobility on the environmental citizenship behavior of Ardabil residents.

The present study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical method and a questionnaire was used to collect information. The statistical population of this study was all residents of Ardabil in 1398. Place attachment, trust, mobility and environmental citizenship behavior questionnaires were used to assess the research variables. Indicators of research questionnaires were obtained from related studies and research background and then localized based on the research conditions and the city under study. Also, the validity and reliability of the research model and data analysis were performed by structural equation modeling in LISREL software.

The research model showed that the value of the path coefficient between trust and citizenship behavior is equal to 0.42. Since the T value is equal to 5.68, due to the fact that it is greater than 1.96, it shows that the obtained coefficient is significant at the 95 level of confidence. Therefore, the relationship is confirmed and it can be said that trust has a positive and significant effect on environmental citizenship behavior in the study area. Also, considering that the value of the path coefficient between the mobility of citizenship behavior is equal to 0.17. Since the T value is equal to 2.47, due to being greater than 1.96, it shows that the obtained coefficient is significant at the 95 level of confidence. Therefore, the relationship is confirmed and it can be said that mobility has a positive and significant effect on environmental citizenship behavior in the study area. And considering that the value of the path coefficient between place attachment and environmental citizenship behavior is equal to 0.21. Since the T value is equal to 2.99, due to being greater than 1.96, it shows that the obtained coefficient is significant at the 95 level of confidence. Therefore, the relationship is confirmed and it can be said that place attachment has a positive and significant effect on environmental citizenship behavior in the study area.

The findings showed that citizens who have more confidence in the decisions and plans of city officials on environmental issues, show more environmental citizenship behavior. Consistent with this finding, it can be claimed that city managers can encourage residents of cities such as Ardabil to engage in environmental citizenship behaviors by increasing citizens' awareness of the importance and place of the environment in urban programs and policies while increasing their trust. The findings also show that the mobility and relocation of Ardabil residents, while helping to evaluate the results of environmental policies of local organizations, provides them with more empirical knowledge and information resources. And citizens with high mobility through their visits to different cities, while gaining more knowledge of how the environmental policies of local organizations have a positive impact, show a greater desire to engage in urban environmental behaviors. In fact, the change in lifestyle and also the increase in the possibility of movement and mobility among citizens has caused the level of their evaluation of the environmental policies of their place of residence to increase in proportion to the places visited and thus increase competition among cities for adoption. Environmental approaches and policies will be expected. Also, the research findings showed that in Ardabil city, with the increase of citizens 'level of attachment, the citizens' environmental citizenship behaviors increase. Based on this, it can be said that in cities whose residents have a higher rate ofplace attachment, more environmental citizenship behaviors are performed and strengthening the place attachment of citizen’s leads to individual and collective behaviors that are environmentally friendly. Accordingly, policies and programs that increase residents 'attachment to their place of residence will reciprocally increase residents' participation in environmentally friendly behaviors.