The Purchase of Voluntary Carbon Offsets by Australian Consumers: Exploring the Attitude-Behaviour Gap

This research examines the level of environmental awareness among Australian consumers and identifies the factors that affect attitudes and behaviour towards purchasing carbon offset products. Data was obtained from 83 consumers through an online survey to measure knowledge and purchase behaviour of carbon offsets, intention for future purchases and attitudes towards the environment. The results demonstrate that an attitude-behaviour gap exists among Australian consumers; while consumers possess strong positive attitudes
towards the environment and climate change, this does not translate into actual purchases of voluntary carbon offsets. Results indicate that lack of knowledge and the perception that carbon offsets are hard to purchase is affecting uptake of carbon offsets. These insights can provide guidance to managers and policy makers.