The Effect of the Environmental Halo Surrounding Egypt on the Citizens' Green Behavioral Intentions towards Adaptation to Climatic Changes.

The study aimed to reveal the nature of environmental halo surrounding the country and explain how this halo affects citizens’ green behavioral intentions towards adaptation to climate changes. To achieve this goal, the researcher developed a theoretical model based on the assumptions of the halo effect and planned behavior theories and used path analysis to examine the supposed paths between the variables. The questionnaire was applied electronically to a sample of (657) individuals among Egyptian public. The results of the study revealed a positive environmental halo surrounding the country, where the positive impression about the general performance of the country affected the respondents' processing of information related to the country's efforts to confront climate change, so they formed positive cognitive biases, which the respondents employed in reasoning to make a decision easily and efficiently in issuing judgment at the level of the environmental performance of the country, so their evaluations were positive with high rate. The study contributed to expanding the theory of planned behavior in the context of adapting to climate changes. The environmental halo concept variables (impression about the overall performance of the country, cognitive biases resulting from framing, and evaluating the environmental performance of the country) had a direct positive impact on the three determinants of behavioral intentions towards adaptation to climate changes (Attitudes towards adaptive behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control). The same variables also had a positive and direct impact on citizens' green behavioral intentions, making the environmental halo surrounding the country a fourth determinant of the behavioral intentions towards adaptation to climate change. The results of the study revealed many positive opportunities for policy makers in Egypt to face the challenges posed by climate change and turn them into strengths to support the development process and nation branding industry.