Abstract

Aim: Although climate change is a natural phenomenon on earth, today's society is facing global warming never seen before. The alteration of the planetary climate motivated, mainly by human activity, could trigger ecological, economic and social impacts capable of disrupting the forms of life on the planet. This raises the need to discuss the influence of psychosocial factors on the environmental awareness of human groups and how these factors could be used to cause a change in the community, giving rise to pro-environmental behaviors or sustainable behaviors. Design / Research methods: Transectional mixed research. Bibliographic review and application of a survey to the community of a Chilean university (n=131). The process consisted mainly of two stages: (1) literature review and (2) survey application. Conclusions / Findings: After the bibliographic review, it is observed that people carry out pro-environmental behaviors when they are sufficiently informed about environmental problems, have a favorable attitude towards them, and are capable of generating qualitative, effective changes that do not cause them difficulties important later. Regarding the results of the survey, it is observed that the respondents are able to perceive the damage of global warming and have pro-environmental behaviors in greater proportion compared to the bibliographic data reviewed. The results are exploratory; however, they provide an approach for future research in this context. Originality / Value of the article: This article offers an updated perspective on perceptions in relation to climate change and pro-environmental behaviors, based on the case study. Additionally, it offers a proposal for the intervention of university educational plans.