Nature experiences and pro-environmental behavior: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Exposure to nature is positively associated with pro-environmental behavior, though causal evidence to date is limited. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with N = 542 participants, to explore whether a one-time encounter with nature can lead individuals to behave more pro-environmentally. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions, spending 15 minutes either walking through a park, walking through an urban area, viewing a video of a nature walk, or taking a break while seated at a desk. Participants received a EUR 10 endowment to either keep for themselves or donate to a conservation, social, or cultural charity. We observed pro-environmental behavior by measuring donations to the conservation charity, which came at a direct cost to participants. We found modest support that real exposure to nature positively affects pro-environmental behavior, as evidenced by higher average donations compared to watching a nature video, but not compared to any other condition. Self-reported restoration mediated the effect, but lost significance when controlling for environmental concern. Thus, attention restoration as a mechanism was driven by environmentally concerned individuals. Fostering more nature experiences may present a relevant avenue for behavior-change. We discuss limitations and propose several directions for future research.