A0597
Title: Unpacking determinants of water conservation behavior and the spatial variations of their effects
Authors: Rashad Mammadli - LIUC University C.Cattaneo (Italy) [presenting]
Chiara Gigliarano - LIUC University C.Cattaneo (Italy)
Abstract: Water scarcity issues worldwide demand a thorough understanding of the factors influencing water consumption and conservation behavior to effectively address demand-side challenges. The aim is to investigate the determinants of water conservation behavior through a comprehensive empirical analysis, emphasizing spatial heterogeneity at the regional scale in Italy. Using ordinal logistic regression with sequential analysis, it is found that various socio-demographic, behavioral, and social factors, including trust in public institutions, significantly impact water conservation. Furthermore, applying the mixed geographically weighted spatial autoregressive ordinal regression (MGW-SAR-Ordinal) model reveals statistically significant spatial variation in the relationships between water saving and four key factors: Gender, household size, energy saving, and trust in public institutions. Three of these factors show consistently positive associations with water conservation, while household size exhibits both positive and negative effects depending on the region. These findings highlight the importance of region-specific interventions to promote effective water-saving behaviors, offering valuable insights for policymakers aiming to foster sustainable water conservation practices.
