Environmental Consciousness: A Comprehensive Investigation Using Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Environmental Consciousness (EC) has been gaining greater attention lately but the field is still relatively young and conceptual clarity is yet to be established. The objective of this study is to analyse current trends in literature related to environmental consciousness, with an emphasis on bibliometric analysis. Scopus and Web of Science were used to conduct the bibliometric analysis of environmental consciousness. This study encompassed all the years relevant to environmental consciousness, as this study is the first bibliometric research on the same.

Methods: A total of 295 publications were generated after the records were refined and scanned. Results were analysed using the Bibliometric R-package. The Biblioshiny app was used to do a descriptive study, which included the most often used terms in titles and keywords, eminent authors, top journals, and contributing organisations, followed by a content analysis. A network visualisation analysis of patterns has been investigated using Biblioshiny.

Results: The bibliometric analysis shows a significant increase in the area of environmental consciousness. The study highlights notable authors, significant works, top organisations, nations, and journals in environmental consciousness through science mapping and performance analysis of the existing studies. The research showed how environmental consciousness has developed over time and how it may give businesses a sustainable competitive advantage.

Conclusions: As far as the author knows, no study has analysed environmental consciousness using bibliometric analysis. The aim of the present investigation is to bridge a major gap by analysing the impact of EC in order to comprehend conceptual formation and offer an agenda for future studies for researchers engaged in this field.