Immigrants’ Environmental Engagement in South Ontario: A Preliminary Mixed-Method Study

Globalization and migration have resulted in a growing need to understand immigrants’ environmental engagement in a heterogeneous society. However, the literature provides no clear indication of how immigrants or ethnic minority groups might respond to environmental issue. Past research in USA showed that in some case, immigrants’ environmentalism was stronger than the majority White Americans with regard to their environmental concerns and behaviors (Jones, 1998); whereas, in other cases, some immigrants appeared less environmentally engaged (Zube & Pitt, 1981). In addition, most of the previous studies used survey that did not provide a meaningful window to understanding of various motivations that can have a bearing on environmental engagement. In the preliminary mixed-method study, we compared the environmental engagement of immigrants and the native-born Canadians in South Ontario. We attempted to answer a basic question: will immigrants be more, less, or as likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviors?

Quantitatively, we investigated 23 young adults’ (M_age = 31.75) environmental Identity (Clayton, 2003), environmental involvement (Matsuba et al., 2012), and community engagement (Pratt et al., 2012). Qualitatively, we asked them to tell five stories relating to their personal experiences with the environment: an important environmental story in general; a moral dilemma story; a moral courage story; a moral cowardice story; and a turning point story. Narratives coding was adapted from McAdams (2001) life-story interview approach. In addition, thematic themes were generated.

MANOVA indicated that immigrants (N = 11) scored lower than native-born Canadians (n = 12) did in the questionnaires of environmental involvement and environmental identity but not in the measure of community engagement. Quantitatively, immigrants were less likely to narrate their environmental experiences than native-born Canadians were. Common threats among these immigrants such as lack of opportunity in engaging environmental activities; financial reasons; lack of environmental knowledge were identified.