Impact of Environmental Knowledge on Public Behavior and Benefits Obtained from Engineers

Environmental knowledgeEnvironmental knowledge is the basis for generating environment-friendly behavior, thus obtaining environmental benefitsEnvironmental benefits. This chapter presents a structural equation model in which three variables are integrated: general environmental knowledgeGeneral Environmental Knowledge (GEK), pro-environmental public behaviorPro-environmental Public Behavior (PPB), and environmental benefits (ENB). These variables are related using three hypotheses validated with information from 1449 responses to a questionnaire administered to engineering students and active engineers who study or work in companies established in Ciudad Juarez (Chihuahua, Mexico). The model was evaluated using the partial least squares technique. The results indicate a direct and positive relationship between GEK and PPB, suggesting that ecological knowledge encourages people to develop appropriate ecological behaviors. A significant and positive connection was also found between GEKGeneral Environmental Knowledge and PPBPro-environmental Public Behavior with ENB. However, the relationship between GEK and ENB is stronger, indicating that environmental knowledgeEnvironmental knowledge and its application are the basis for generating better environmental benefitsEnvironmental benefits.