The effect of empathy with nature and humans on conservation behaviour

Fostering positive relationships between humans and nature is critical to conservation efforts globally, yet little research has considered the effects of empathy with nature and empathy with humans on conservation behaviour. This study examined the relationships between empathy with nature and humans on conservation behaviour. In 2024, 329 residents of Turku, Finland, over the age of 15 completed a survey containing validated measures of empathy with nature, cognitive and affective empathy and conservation behaviour in the public and private spheres. We found that empathy with nature was consistently a strong predictor of conservation behaviour and behavioural intention in the public sphere. Cognitive empathy was a positive predictor of conservation behaviour intention in the private sphere, while affective empathy had a weak negative effect on conservation behaviour in the public sphere. These different predictive capacities highlight the importance of moving from general measures of empathy with humans to measures including cognitive and affective components in conservation behaviour research and practice. • Studied combined effects of empathy with humans and empathy with nature on behaviour. • Collected survey data from 329 residents of Turku, Finland. • Both cognitive empathy and empathy with nature predicted conservation action. • Affective empathy had little direct effects on conservation behaviour.