Table 7 Comparative analysis of this study with existing research.

Research Design

Knowledge Classification

Subdivided environmental knowledge into system knowledge, action knowledge, and efficacy knowledge, refining the impact mechanisms of different types of knowledge on low-carbon behaviors

Unlike previous studies (e.g., Liu et al., 2020) that treated knowledge as a single entity

Low-Carbon Behavior Classification

Subdivided low-carbon behaviors into low-carbon conservation behaviors and low-carbon expenditure behaviors, clarifying behavioral differences under different psychological and economic motivations

Unlike previous studies (e.g., Raeisi et al., 2018) that generalized low-carbon behaviors

Mediating Variables

Added low-carbon capability as a mediating variable, deepening the mechanism of how knowledge translates into behavior through capability

Unlike previous studies (e.g., C. Li et al., 2023b) that only used low-carbon intention as a mediating variable

Research Conclusions

Impact of System Knowledge on Low-Carbon Intention

System knowledge has a negative impact on low-carbon intention, challenging the common view that knowledge only positively affects low-carbon behaviors

Unlike previous studies (e.g., Liu et al., 2020); supplemented with discussions on cognitive dissonance and perceived ineffectiveness

Relationship between Low-Carbon Intention and Low-Carbon Behavior

Low-carbon intention only significantly affects low-carbon conservation behaviors, but not low-carbon expenditure behaviors; low-carbon capability significantly affects low-carbon expenditure behaviors, but not low-carbon conservation behaviors

Unlike previous studies (e.g., Hines, 1987); addressed the insufficient explanatory power of low-carbon intention for overall low-carbon behaviors (e.g., Mata et al., 2021)