Exploring the Role of Energy-Saving Awareness on Stated Behavior under the Context of Carbon Neutrality: A Case Study of Frontline Pilots in Chinese Civil Aviation

Abstract

With ongoing economic and social development, sustainability and environmental protection have become major global concerns. In response to the United Nations’ call for sustainable development, China has adopted the long-term “Dual Carbon Goal” to address climate change and promote a greener economy and a more environmentally balanced society. This goal contains two parts: carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. It aims to bring carbon dioxide emissions to their highest level by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, meaning that carbon dioxide emissions from human activities will be offset through measures such as afforestation, so that net-zero emissions can be reached (State Council of the People’s Republic of China, 2022). The introduction of China’s Dual Carbon Goal has had a significant impact on most industries, imposing more stringent requirements. Civil aviation enterprises, among all, are urged to adopt optimized measures to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy utilization and promote the industry’s development toward a greener and more environmentally friendly direction. This includes increasing aircraft fuel efficiency, optimizing the aviation transportation system, and strengthening training on sustainability for employees. In this context, frontline pilots need to strengthen their energy-saving awareness and engagement in energy-efficient flight operations to meet the new requirements of the development of the civil aviation industry. This proactive approach is expected to contribute to achieving the Dual Carbon Goal, promoting low-carbon development in flight, and providing positive momentum for enterprises. Drawing mainly on Social Cognitive Theory, complemented by Theory of Planned Behavior and related behavioral theories used in a supporting role, this study examines Energy-Saving Awareness (ESA) among frontline pilots in China and the relationship between Energy-Saving Intention (ESI) and Stated Energy-Saving Behavior (SESB). Based on a review of the literature, this study develops a theoretical framework on the pathway of ESA-ESI-SESB. A survey of 200 frontline pilots from Chinese civil aviation enterprises was then used to examine the associations among the three terms. Quantitative results demonstrate that: 1. Energy-Saving Awareness (ESA) is positively associated with Energy-Saving Intention (ESI), indicating that pilots with stronger energy-saving awareness also report stronger motivation to make fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible decisions during flight operations. 2. Energy-Saving Awareness (ESA) is positively associated with Stated Energy-Saving Behavior (SESB), indicating that pilots with higher awareness scores also report more frequent use of energy-saving and fuel-efficient operating practices. 3. Energy-Saving Intention (ESI) is positively associated with Stated Energy-Saving Behavior (SESB), indicating that pilots with a stronger self-reported intention to save energy also report greater engagement in energy-saving operational practices. To clarify the two concepts, Energy-Saving Intention (ESI) refers to an individual’s psychological willingness to perform energy-saving practices, while Stated Energy-Saving Behavior (SESB) refers to the self-reported physical actions aimed at reducing energy consumption or improving efficiency, such as optimized flight procedures, reduced taxiing, and fuel-efficient climb profiles. SESB serves as the dependent variable in this study, representing pilots’ self-reported behavioral practices related to awareness and intention. 4. Energy-Saving Intention (ESI) partly explains the association between Energy-Saving Awareness (ESA) and Stated Energy-Saving Behavior (SESB), indicating that awareness is related to stated behavior partly through pilots’ energy-saving intention. 5. Psychological Factors (PF) moderate the association between Energy-Saving Awareness (ESA) and Energy-Saving Intention (ESI), with higher self-efficacy and stronger personal norms strengthening the positive relationship between awareness and intention. 6. Situational Factors (SF) moderate the relationship between Energy-Saving Intention (ESI) and Stated Energy-Saving Behavior (SESB), indicating that supportive organizational and policy conditions strengthen the relationship between intention and stated behavior. Conclusion: In this sample, energy-saving awareness, intention, and stated behavior are closely related. Energy-saving awareness is associated with stated behavior both directly and indirectly through energy-saving intention. Psychological factors are associated with the strength of the awareness–intention link, while situational factors are related to the strength of the intention–stated behavior link. Given the cross-sectional and self-reported nature of the data, these findings should be interpreted as statistically supported associations within the proposed model, not as evidence of a temporal or causal sequence. Finally, in light of the empirical findings and the broader need for sustainable and low-carbon development, this study proposes practical recommendations for strengthening pilots’ energy-saving intention, improving organizational support and policy incentives, and fostering a stronger culture of energy conservation within civil aviation enterprises.