Exploring Cognitive Factors and Climate Change Mitigation Behaviour among Managers of Tourist Hotel Facilities within Naivasha Sub County, Kenya

Abstract

Cognition of causes, consequences and responses to climate change is considered as an important determinant of decisions made by any organisation on climate change mitigation behaviour (CCMB). There is, however, scant empirical information on the role of cognitive factors on tourist hotel managers’ CCMB. A cross sectional survey was therefore conducted in a stratified random sample of 70 medium to luxury-priced tourist facilities with 182 managers. Data was collected from three managers in each sampled establishment using self-administered questionnaires. A beta regression model was used to establish the role of cognitive factors on CCMB. The study identified efficiency and curtailment practices as two categories of CCMB. In addition, the results revealed that the managers had moderate scores on CCMB. Moreover, the different dimensions of cognitive factors had divergent associations with both categories of CCMB. Cause knowledge was positively associated with both curtailment and efficiency CCMB. Consequence knowledge was negatively associated with curtailment but positively with efficiency practices. Response knowledge had no relationship with curtailment practices but had a positive association with efficiency CCMB. Findings indicate that policy frameworks to enhance CCMB among key decision-makers need to integrate cognition of climate change as a critical factor that can be improved through training and awareness creation efforts.