Understanding farmers' commitments to carbon projects

Wei Wang; Lei Wang; Lei Gu; Guomo Zhou

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147112

Understanding farmers' commitments to carbon projects

Sci Total Environ. 2021 Aug 25:784:147112. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147112. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Authors

Wei Wang¹, Lei Wang², Lei Gu³, Guomo Zhou⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Humanities and Law, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Yijin Road 252, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 311300.
² College of Economics and Management, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Yijin Road 252, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 311300. Electronic address: wanglei@zafu.edu.cn.
³ College of Economics and Management, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Yijin Road 252, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 311300.
⁴ College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, No.666 Wusu Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 311300.

PMID: 33895516
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147112

Abstract

This study focuses on identifying the factors that influence farmers' commitment to carbon projects. Based on studying the components of organizational commitment, project commitment and environmental commitment, we developed a regression model that consists of five independent variables, i.e., project-related incomes, persistence in the project, perception of government support, perception of the project and knowledge about carbon sequestration. The model was tested using survey data from 127 smallholder farmers taking part in a carbon project in Suichang, China. The results indicate that farmers' commitment to carbon projects depends on project-related incomes, persistence in the project, and perception of the project. Governmental support and environmental belief do not necessarily affect farmers' commitment.

Keywords: Carbon projects; Commitment; Farmers.