Do socio-psychological factors contribute to the use of green energy and climate change mitigation in the residential sector?

Global warming and climate change due to increasing energy demand are becoming a serious challenge that impedes the sustainable development of the natural and human systems. This study stands in the perspective of using green energy as a mitigation strategy to combat climate change in Australian setting. Based on the Environmental Theory of Planned Behaviour model (ETPB, Mancha & Yoder, 2015) modified from TPB (Ajzen, 1991), the study aims to explain people's behavioural intent to use green energy. In this context, the study investigates how socio-psychological dimensions —such attitude, social pressure, personal norm, environmental concern, environmental sustainability awareness—affect people's intention to use green energy to fight against the climate change. Data collected (n=386) from the Australian households by a postal survey were analysed using partial least squares– structural equation modelling- PLS-SEM technique to examine the strength of the relationships among the constructs. Overall, the study findings indicated people's intentions to use green energy (IG) to mitigate the mitigate change could be better explained by the socio-psychological factors. The findings add to the previous body of work and extends our knowledge on theoretical perspective to guide the green energy policy against the climate change. Researchers and practitioners would find the study findings and insights encouraging.