A Systems Perspective on Ecological Citizenship in Libya: Cultural Mediation of Environmental Attitudes in a Socio-Economic Context

Ecological citizenship offers a framework for understanding how individuals translate environmental knowledge and concern into civic environmental engagement. However, the cultural mechanisms shaping this process remain understudied, particularly in Libya and comparable socio-cultural contexts. This study examines how environmental concern and the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) influence ecological citizenship and the extent to which cultural factors mediate these relationships in Libya. Using a quantitative design, data were collected from 509 adults through validated scales measuring ecological citizenship, environmental concern, the NEP, and cultural values. The statistical analysis results show that environmental concern positively predicts ecological citizenship, with altruistic and biospheric concerns exerting the strongest effects. While the NEP correlates positively with ecological citizenship, its direct impact becomes non-significant when cultural factors are introduced. Cultural values, particularly religiosity, family orientation, generosity, and interdependence, demonstrate strong positive associations with ecological citizenship and mediate the effects of both the NEP and environmental concern, while materialism shows an inverse relationship. The findings of this research highlight that ecological citizenship is shaped not only by environmental attitudes but also by culturally embedded norms and values.