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Water Conservation Through Voluntary Responsible Behaviour at Botho University in Botswana

Received: 5 March 2020     Accepted: 23 March 2020     Published: 7 April 2020
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Abstract

In 2016, the Paris agreement on climate change agreed to limit the global warming well below 2°C, and ideally 1.5°C by the end of the century. Even-though the global temperature on track shows a raise towards 3.2°C by the end of the century breaking 1.5°C target by 2040, one wonders how the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR) assessed the vulnerability of Botswana in reaching the limit, 2°C. Accordingly, Botswana will show a steady raise in temperature to 2.8°C, the annual rainfall will drop by 9% and increase in dry days by 17 extra days. In addition, even the Limpopo catchment in Botswana will show a decline by 36%. Given these scenarios, water as a lifelong commodity becomes highly vulnerable in Botswana. With a view to mitigate the intensity, the local, regional and international legal, policy and institutional framework legislated, agreed otherwise ratified expects a sustainable water management by voluntary, responsible behaviour from the consumers apart from other stakeholders in Botswana. For example, 2030 Agenda for 17 SDGs: the SDG 06: Clean Water and Sanitation & 12th SDG: Responsible Consumption and Production. Consequently, this study qualitatively investigated the ex-ante and ex-post behavior of a consumer manifested by the strategic management in the light of theory of planned behavior for the water conservation project implemented by installation of newer water efficient appliances at Botho University in a landlocked country, Botswana. The test of theory of planned behaviour finds that the attitudes, social norms and Perceived Behavioural Control of the strategic management made strong intention for the responsible behavioural change in implementing the project. Further, the project has been able to save the water by 80%, supply water continuously to consumers, protect the environment and further a cost saving to the university. These findings will be significant to ascertain how antecedent factors determine the decision making behaviour of a water conservation project. Such understanding acts as a catalyst for African universities to be a beacon of vision and mission in water conservation, distribution and governance in Africa in which continent 33% of people are affected by water scarcity which is getting worse with urbanization, population, industrial use and climate change.

Published in American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajap.20200902.11
Page(s) 34-41
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Global Warming, SDGs, Water Conservation, Theory of Planned Behaviour, Voluntary Behaviour

References
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[2] Ajzen, I. & Fishein, M. (1980). Understanding Attitudes and Predicting Social Behaviour, Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
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[4] Ajzen, I. (2006). Behavioral Interventions Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior Behavioral Interventions Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. Available from: file:///E:/Users/STZ/Downloads/Behavioral_Interventions_Based_on_the_Theory_of_Pl.pdf [Accessed 20th March, 2020]
[5] CDKN: Climate & Development Knowledge Network (2018). Opinion: What global warming of 1.5°C and higher means for Botswana and Namibia. Available from: https://cdkn.org/2018/10/opinion-what-global-warming-of-1-5-%E2%84%83-and-higher-means-for-botswana-and-namibia/?loclang=en_gb [Accessed 10th June 2019].
[6] Department of Water Affairs- Ministry of Minerals, Energy & Water Resources (2013). Botswana Integrated Water Resources Management & Water Efficiency Plan. (L. Dikobe, Ed.) Gaborone, Botswana: Government of Botswana.
[7] EPA (1997). Water Pollution Prevention and Conservation Pollution Prevention (P2) Education Toolbox Tools for Helping Teachers Integrate P2 Concepts in the Classroom. United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA-905-F-97-011.
[8] Harrison, D. A., Mykytyn, P. P., & Riemenschneider, C. K. (1997). Executive decisions about adoption of information technology in small businesses: Theory and empirical test. Information Systems Research, 8 (2), 171-195.
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[12] Ministry of Minerals, Energy & Water Resources (2012). Botswana National Water Policy. Available from: https://www.water.gov.bw/images/Water%20Pitso/Water_Policy__November_2012.pdf [Accessed 08th June 2019].
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[14] Pearce, R., Dessai, S. & Barr, S. (2013). Re-Framing Environmental Social Science Research for Sustainable Water Management in a Changing Climate. Water Resource Manage. 27: 959. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-012-0184-0 [Accessed 19th June 2019].
[15] Renzi, R, Jane, E. & Barr, S. (2008) Using the Theory of Planned Behavior with qualitative research. Working Papers 012, “Carlo F. Dondena” Centre for Research on Social Dynamics (DONDENA), Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi.
[16] Sheppard, B. H., Hartwick, J. & Warshaw, P. R. (1988). The theory of reasoned action: A meta-analysis of past research with recommendations for modifications and future research. Journal of Consumer Research. 15 (3), 325–343. doi: 10.1086/209170.
[17] Steg, L., & C. Vlek (2009), Encouraging pro‐environmental behaviour: An integrative review and research agenda, J. Environ. Psychol. 29 (3), 309–317, doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2008.10.004.
[18] Water Utilities Corporation (2015/16). Annual Report 2015/16. Available from: https://www.wuc.bw/common_up/wuc-new/files/ANNUAL_REPORT_2015-16.pdf [Accessed on 19th June 2019].
[19] Xiong, Y. J., Hao, X. R., Liao, C. & Zeng, Z. N. (2016). Relationship between water-conservation behavior and water education in Guangzhou, China. Environ Earth Sci. 75: DOI 10.1007/s12665-015-4873-xi.
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  • APA Style

    Shantha Indrajith Hikkaduwa Liyanage, Venkataraman Vishwanathan. (2020). Water Conservation Through Voluntary Responsible Behaviour at Botho University in Botswana. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 9(2), 34-41. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20200902.11

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    ACS Style

    Shantha Indrajith Hikkaduwa Liyanage; Venkataraman Vishwanathan. Water Conservation Through Voluntary Responsible Behaviour at Botho University in Botswana. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2020, 9(2), 34-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20200902.11

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    AMA Style

    Shantha Indrajith Hikkaduwa Liyanage, Venkataraman Vishwanathan. Water Conservation Through Voluntary Responsible Behaviour at Botho University in Botswana. Am J Appl Psychol. 2020;9(2):34-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20200902.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajap.20200902.11,
      author = {Shantha Indrajith Hikkaduwa Liyanage and Venkataraman Vishwanathan},
      title = {Water Conservation Through Voluntary Responsible Behaviour at Botho University in Botswana},
      journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
      volume = {9},
      number = {2},
      pages = {34-41},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20200902.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20200902.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20200902.11},
      abstract = {In 2016, the Paris agreement on climate change agreed to limit the global warming well below 2°C, and ideally 1.5°C by the end of the century. Even-though the global temperature on track shows a raise towards 3.2°C by the end of the century breaking 1.5°C target by 2040, one wonders how the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR) assessed the vulnerability of Botswana in reaching the limit, 2°C. Accordingly, Botswana will show a steady raise in temperature to 2.8°C, the annual rainfall will drop by 9% and increase in dry days by 17 extra days. In addition, even the Limpopo catchment in Botswana will show a decline by 36%. Given these scenarios, water as a lifelong commodity becomes highly vulnerable in Botswana. With a view to mitigate the intensity, the local, regional and international legal, policy and institutional framework legislated, agreed otherwise ratified expects a sustainable water management by voluntary, responsible behaviour from the consumers apart from other stakeholders in Botswana. For example, 2030 Agenda for 17 SDGs: the SDG 06: Clean Water and Sanitation & 12th SDG: Responsible Consumption and Production. Consequently, this study qualitatively investigated the ex-ante and ex-post behavior of a consumer manifested by the strategic management in the light of theory of planned behavior for the water conservation project implemented by installation of newer water efficient appliances at Botho University in a landlocked country, Botswana. The test of theory of planned behaviour finds that the attitudes, social norms and Perceived Behavioural Control of the strategic management made strong intention for the responsible behavioural change in implementing the project. Further, the project has been able to save the water by 80%, supply water continuously to consumers, protect the environment and further a cost saving to the university. These findings will be significant to ascertain how antecedent factors determine the decision making behaviour of a water conservation project. Such understanding acts as a catalyst for African universities to be a beacon of vision and mission in water conservation, distribution and governance in Africa in which continent 33% of people are affected by water scarcity which is getting worse with urbanization, population, industrial use and climate change.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Water Conservation Through Voluntary Responsible Behaviour at Botho University in Botswana
    AU  - Shantha Indrajith Hikkaduwa Liyanage
    AU  - Venkataraman Vishwanathan
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    T2  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
    JF  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
    JO  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5672
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20200902.11
    AB  - In 2016, the Paris agreement on climate change agreed to limit the global warming well below 2°C, and ideally 1.5°C by the end of the century. Even-though the global temperature on track shows a raise towards 3.2°C by the end of the century breaking 1.5°C target by 2040, one wonders how the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR) assessed the vulnerability of Botswana in reaching the limit, 2°C. Accordingly, Botswana will show a steady raise in temperature to 2.8°C, the annual rainfall will drop by 9% and increase in dry days by 17 extra days. In addition, even the Limpopo catchment in Botswana will show a decline by 36%. Given these scenarios, water as a lifelong commodity becomes highly vulnerable in Botswana. With a view to mitigate the intensity, the local, regional and international legal, policy and institutional framework legislated, agreed otherwise ratified expects a sustainable water management by voluntary, responsible behaviour from the consumers apart from other stakeholders in Botswana. For example, 2030 Agenda for 17 SDGs: the SDG 06: Clean Water and Sanitation & 12th SDG: Responsible Consumption and Production. Consequently, this study qualitatively investigated the ex-ante and ex-post behavior of a consumer manifested by the strategic management in the light of theory of planned behavior for the water conservation project implemented by installation of newer water efficient appliances at Botho University in a landlocked country, Botswana. The test of theory of planned behaviour finds that the attitudes, social norms and Perceived Behavioural Control of the strategic management made strong intention for the responsible behavioural change in implementing the project. Further, the project has been able to save the water by 80%, supply water continuously to consumers, protect the environment and further a cost saving to the university. These findings will be significant to ascertain how antecedent factors determine the decision making behaviour of a water conservation project. Such understanding acts as a catalyst for African universities to be a beacon of vision and mission in water conservation, distribution and governance in Africa in which continent 33% of people are affected by water scarcity which is getting worse with urbanization, population, industrial use and climate change.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Faculty of Business and Accountancy, Botho University, Gaborone, Botswana

  • Faculty of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Botho University, Gaborone, Botswana

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