The role of knowledge structures in transferring the culture of environmental protection towards sustainable development

Sustainable development represents a new perspective on the relationship between humans, nature, and society, aiming to meet present needs without limiting the ability of future generations. This study seeks to design and explain a cultural model of environmental protection within the framework of sustainable development in the National Environmental Organization. The research is applied in purpose and exploratory in method, employing both qualitative and quantitative (mixed) approaches through grounded theory and exploratory factor analysis. Data collection relied on semi-structured interviews with ۱۲ experts, including university professors, managers in environmental fields, and representatives of organizations, municipalities, and NGOs. Analysis followed grounded theory procedures—open, axial, and selective coding—resulting in ۱۵ categories within a paradigm model. These included causal conditions (ecological, social, economic, ethical, and political necessities), the central phenomenon (cultural model of environmental protection), enabling conditions (sustainability culture, governance, and leadership), intervening conditions (cognitive, attitudinal, socio-cultural, political, economic, and infrastructural factors), strategies (cultural transformation, behavioral innovation, and sustainability strategies), and consequences (environmental and socio-political outcomes). In the quantitative phase, the statistical population extended to managers and staff of the National Environmental Organization. Data from exploratory factor analysis were processed using SPSS۲۶, confirming validity and reliability of the questionnaire as factor loadings exceeded ۰.۳ and significance coefficients surpassed ۱.۹۶. Furthermore, structural equation modeling via AMOS confirmed the strength of relationships among model components, validating the proposed framework

کلیدواژه ها:

Environment ، Cultural Model of Environmental Protection ، sustainable development ، Environmental Organization