A Professor of Applied Social and Environmental Psychology at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Oluyinka Ojedokun, has identified human behaviour and collective actions as the major drivers of environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, waste management issues and urban pollution.
The don, however, recommended the adoption of what he described as “Responsible Environmental Behaviour” as a practical approach to addressing environmental degradation.
Ojedokun stated this while delivering the 56th inaugural lecture of the university titled, “God Made the Earth, Humans Made the Town,” on Tuesday.
He stressed the need for urgent and coordinated actions aimed at achieving a balanced ecosystem, urging governments and stakeholders to prioritise environmental education programmes that go beyond raising awareness to actively promoting responsible behaviour among citizens.
According to him, the earth remains the primary source of human existence and survival, warning that continued environmental degradation could threaten the future of humanity.
“Humanity’s source is the Earth, and it remains the foundation of our survival. Therefore, we cannot afford the continued degradation of the environment,” he said.
The professor explained that responsible environmental behaviour focuses on preventive measures that encourage individuals to consciously act in ways that protect the environment, rather than relying solely on campaigns designed to change attitudes.
“Responsible environmental behaviour demands a future-oriented mindset. It requires individuals to incur small present costs such as effort, inconvenience or restraint in exchange for benefits that are largely collective and long-term,” he said.
Ojedokun noted that environmentally responsible conduct does not occur by chance but is shaped by several psychological and social factors.
“Such behaviour is influenced by attitudes, self-concept, self-efficacy, personality traits, future time perspective, emotional processes such as eco-anxiety, and the social and institutional environments within which individuals operate,” he added.
He called on universities, schools and community organisations to design environmental education initiatives that extend beyond awareness campaigns to include strategies capable of influencing real behavioural change.
According to him, such programmes should incorporate goal-setting, scenario-based workshops and visual reminders that connect present-day actions with long-term environmental outcomes.
The scholar also recommended the adoption of behavioural assessment tools such as the Littering Prevention Behaviour Scale and the Littering Attitude Scale to help policymakers and researchers evaluate environmental interventions and design effective programmes.
He further urged researchers and policymakers to involve social and environmental psychologists in developing strategies that would strengthen environmental self-efficacy, promote altruistic values and enhance self-monitoring among residents and students.
Ojedokun emphasised that addressing environmental problems requires a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach involving government institutions, communities and the private sector.
He urged government authorities to provide accessible waste disposal facilities, enforce anti-littering regulations and integrate behavioural insights into public sanitation campaigns.
“Government and local authorities should combine infrastructure, enforcement and education to achieve sustainable environmental outcomes,” he said.
The don also encouraged community leaders, civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations to mobilise residents for clean-up exercises and community monitoring initiatives aimed at reinforcing anti-littering norms.
He equally called on waste management companies to improve the reliability of waste collection services and integrate behavioural insights into service design while partnering with government and educational institutions to promote recycling and proper waste disposal.
Earlier in his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Olugbenga Ige, who chaired the event, commended the inaugural lecturer for his scholarly contributions to research, teaching and community development.
Ige noted that the lecture’s focus on environmental responsibility aligns with the university’s commitment to generating knowledge that addresses societal challenges.
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