A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Leading the sustainability change? : Gen Z business students navigating amid global disruptions (2024)

Grénman, M., Räikkönen, J., Uusitalo, O., & Aapio, F. (2024). Leading the sustainability change? : Gen Z business students navigating amid global disruptions. In S. Seyfi, C. M. Hall, & M. Strzelecka (Eds.), Gen Z, Tourism, and Sustainable Consumption : The Most Sustainable Generation Ever? (pp. 58-73). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003289586-7

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Grénman, Miia; Räikkönen, Juulia; Uusitalo, Outi; Aapio, Fanny

Parent publication: Gen Z, Tourism, and Sustainable Consumption : The Most Sustainable Generation Ever?

Parent publication editors: Seyfi, Siamak; Hall, C. Michael; Strzelecka, Marianna

ISBN: 978-1-032-26706-7

eISBN: 978-1-003-28958-6

Publication year: 2024

Pages range: 58-73

Number of pages in the book: 206

Publisher: Routledge

Place of Publication: Abingdon

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003289586-7

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Abstract

The ecological crisis and COVID-19 pandemic are global disruptions that have critically changed our everyday lives, practices, consumption habits, and tourism behaviour. These global crises call for positive change towards globally responsible consumer behaviour and leadership. Considering Generation Zers’ (Gen Zers’) sustainability ethos, this chapter discusses Gen Z as the next ‘sustainability’ change by examining business students’ environmental world view, environmental education level, and environmental behaviour (EB). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from Finnish business students via a survey (n=172) and written narratives (n=70). The findings revealed that students were concerned about the ecological crisis and supported endorsing a pro-ecological world view. Moreover, they reported a high level of environmental knowledge and attention to sustainability in their daily practices, especially by seeking information, recycling, and considering their consumption choices. Tourism has become an essential part of Gen Zers’ lives. However, it involves contradictions as the negative implications are increasingly acknowledged. The chapter highlights that turning negative disruptions into positive change through societal transformation may enhance visions of the good life. Catalysing positive change requires solidifying Gen Zers’ existing values, attitudes, and behaviours into concrete actions to be undertaken by tomorrow’s consumers, professionals and leaders.

Keywords: tourism; consumer behaviour; sustainable consumption; sustainable tourism; climate crisis; societal change; environmental awareness; values (conceptions); attitudes; leadership (properties); students; generation z

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 3