From Values to Policy Understanding: Linking Pro-Environmental Worldviews, Self-Efficacy, and Climate Risk Perceptions to Sustainability Policy in China

Previous research has primarily examined pro-environmental behaviors, yet how citizens understand the policies that shape such actions remains underexplored. Guided by Protection Motivation Theory, this study investigates the relationship between pro-environmental worldviews and environmental policy understanding in China. Using nationally representative data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (N = 1855), regression analyses revealed that pro-environmental worldviews were positively associated with policy understanding (β = 0.114, p < 0.01), and this link was partially mediated by environmental self-efficacy (β = 0.063, p < 0.001). The positive association between worldviews and self-efficacy was stronger among respondents who perceived climate change as highly severe (interaction β = 0.083, p < 0.05). These findings highlight the cognitive pathways connecting environmental values and policy literacy, positioning policy understanding as an important aspect of sustainable citizenship alongside behavioral engagement. Practically, they suggest that enhancing citizens’ understanding of sustainability policies requires communication that resonates with values, strengthens confidence, and conveys credible information about climate risks.