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Knowledge about the relative environmental impact and climate-protective potential of different actions (effectiveness knowledge) is important for successful sustainable action. However, there is currently no scale for measuring effectiveness knowledge that meets psychometric quality criteria. We developed a new scale consisting of 16 ranking and choice tasks and tested it on a convenience sample of 278 people from Germany in an online study. The final scale version achieved a reliability of rel = 0.655. This is significantly higher than the reliability of 0.329 achieved by an established knowledge scale used for comparison. Inter-correlation of both scales was moderate to strong, but the new scale is able to explain 3% additional variance in high-impact pro-environmental behavior when controlling for environmental attitude, whereas the established scale is not explaining any additional variance, indicating incremental validity of our scale. We conclude that it is possible to use ranking tasks to measure effectiveness knowledge more reliably in a test-efficient way and provide a set of items which are usable in the contemporary German context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We integrate short- (attitudes, norms), medium- (goals), and long-term cognitions (values) to explain car-sharing. • We extract "environmental consciousness" and the desire for "luxury" as goals relevant to car-sharing. • Values underlie both short and medium-term cognitions and are thus central to car-sharing. • Goals influence both intentions and actual car-sharing behaviour. • Car-sharing results from a complex web of long-term, medium-term, and short-term cognitions. Examinations into the psychological drivers of car-sharing have to date focused on short-term cognitions such as attitudes, norms, and intentions. In this paper, we integrate such short-term cognitions with medium-term cognitions (e.g., goals) and long-term cognitions (e.g., values), thereby providing a more comprehensive understanding of the psychological drivers of car-sharing. We surveyed a broadly representative sample of the UK population (N = 1,294) and found that values underlie medium-term cognitions (e.g., goals) and short-term cognitions, thereby ultimately influencing car-sharing intentions and behaviour. Moreover, our results show that environmental consciousness and the desire for luxury are important yet opposing goals that affect both intentions to engage in car-sharing and to actually use car-sharing. Overall, we demonstrate that car-sharing may be more complex than previously anticipated and should be understood as a behaviour that results from a complex web of long-, medium-, and short-term cognitions. We discuss practical and theoretical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, with the intensification of global education competition, how to cultivate innovative and versatile talents has become the focus of education today. Informal learning spaces (ILS) have received widespread attention due to their benefits for interdisciplinary interaction. Many forms of ILS have been built, and coffee shops are one of them. However, there is no uniform standard for the design of cafes as ILS, and there are many problems with the spatial quality. This study took a university cafe as a case study and conducted research on the environmental quality and influencing factors from the perspective of environmental behavior. In terms of research methods, this study adopted a combination of ultra-wideband positioning, questionnaire surveys, and environmental data measurements. This research method could obtain the complete relationship between user behavior, time, and location, which improved the shortcomings of traditional research methods of fragmented and accidental data acquisition, and helped to obtain more accurate research results. The study identified the impact proportions of four criteria layer elements and 26 scheme layer factors, which was also the main contribution of this study. In terms of four criteria layer elements, the physical elements had the highest proportion, accounting for 32.46%. The ontology elements ranked second, accounting for 27.07%. The atmosphere elements ranked third, accounting for 24.19%. Finally, facility elements accounted for 16.29%. The top three scheme layer factors were equipment and facilities, noise, and illumination, with weights of 11.18%, 10.71%, and 8.35%, respectively. The study summarized the development directions of cafes as ILS, such as considering the learning needs of different groups, installing sound-absorbing and soundproof devices, adding grilles to external windows, and improving glare problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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AbstractThe global push for environmental protection often adopts a universal approach, despite evidence of significant disparities in environmentalism across nations. This study uses data from 28 countries in the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) 2020 Environment module to explore the determinants of pro-environmental behavior. Applying the value-belief-norm (VBN) framework, it examines how societal progress influences the pathways from environmental values to behaviors, with a particular focus on less developed countries that ranked lower on the Weighted Index of Social Progress (WISP). Initial findings show that certain factors such as self-efficacy, environmental concern, pro-environmental norms, and exposure to environmental problems consistently predict behavior across WISP clusters, though the magnitude and significance of these associations vary. However, country-level variation within clusters highlights the limitations of grouping countries solely on social progress rankings. Future research should consider both between- and within-cluster variation, and examine other potential methods, including multilevel modeling with country-level random slopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dicamba is a post-herbicide, showing some activity in soil, and its dynamics can be influenced by several factors, including the presence of straw. Brazil has more than 50% of its production area in a no-till system; thus, a good amount of the herbicide is intercepted by the straw. This study aimed to evaluate dicamba dynamics in straw and weed control efficacy when sprayed as a PRE herbicide. For this, five different studies were conducted: we utilized different straw amounts (1) and different drought periods (2) for straw sprayed with dicamba and dicamba + glyphosate to evaluate its release from straw, different straw amounts (3), different drought periods (4), and wet and dry straw (5) to evaluate pre-emergence weed control (Bidens pilosa and Ipomoea grandifolia) and dicamba availability in medium-texture soil. Around 80% of dicamba was released from the straw after 100 mm of rainfall. One day after dicamba application, 65–70% of dicamba was released from the straw with 20 mm of rainfall, while for 7 and 14 DAA, 60% was released. Dicamba was efficient in controlling the pre-emergence of both species studied, and the amount of straw did not interfere in weed control; however, dicamba was less available in the soil after rainfall when sprayed in the straw than when sprayed directly in the soil. Up to 80% of dicamba can be released from the straw after 100 mm of rainfall and weed control was efficient for the species studied; however, the carryover effect in sensitive crops might become an issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subscription services have become popular in recent years, breaking the traditional business model of one-time payment and prompting operators to build long-term loyal relationships with their customers. As smartphones are popular in Taiwan and the Taiwanese have a high acceptance of new technologies, is it possible for domestic restaurants to reach a win-win situation for both consumers and restaurant operators and to reduce food waste through subscription services? The Technology Acceptance Model was used in this study to explore consumers' perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and attitudes toward restaurant subscription platforms, with two variables, new environmental paradigm and environmental behavior, added to probe the relations with intention to use. This study was conducted by convenience and snowball sampling, and the subjects were consumers eating out. A total of 400 questionnaires were collected and 369 valid ones were returned, with a response rate of 92.25%. The results show that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, new environmental paradigm, environmental behaviors, and attitude toward using have significant positive effects, and attitude toward using has the same effect on intention to use. In addition, attitude toward using has a mediating effect on perceived usefulness, new environmental paradigm, environmental behavior, and intention to use. Finally, it is expected that the results of this study can be used as a reference for restaurant operators to adopt subscription services in order to build long-term and stable relationships with consumers. Furthermore, new entrepreneurs can also evaluate the feasibility of building a subscription platform like this one, which can provide a convenient and economical option for consumers dining out, as well as reduce food waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, environmental hazards and consequently environmental insecurity are the most common global challenges in cities. In Iran, cities are involved with environmental challenges such as air pollution, micro dust storms, water stress, land subsidence, soil pollution, and most importantly the challenge of environmental mismanagement. According to the studies, Ahvaz, a strategic metropolis in Iran, is one of such cities that faces the intense challenge of environmental insecurity. The aim of this research is to extract the effective indicators of environmental insecurity by thematic evaluation of these factors and indicators in the city of Ahvaz. In this study, 41 effective indicators have been extracted by analysing the records and opinions of 30 experts (academics and urban-regional managers). The selected indicators were modelled based on the opinions of 20 experts in the Best & Worst technique. Finally, the most important factors and indicators affecting environmental insecurity in Ahvaz were identified, categorized, and prioritized. According to B&W, among the 41 investigated indicators, the indices of hazardous hospital waste (I21) with value of .077, dust storm (I1) with value of .076, and Oil flares (I4) with value of .076 had the highest impact on the insecurity of the urban ecosystem of Ahvaz. Also, the results of this study have shown that among the five mega factors of air, water and soil pollution, environmental behavior, and environmental management, the indicators of air pollution have the highest effect on the environmental insecurity of Ahvaz city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations are adopting green initiatives in response to global environmental crises and climate shifts. While previous research has examined how green HRM affects employees' in-role and extra-role working behaviors, less is known about how it influences employees' behavior outside of work due to their green values (GV) that develop because of implementing organizational green actions. The study addresses the issue, while also considering employees’ environmental knowledge (EK) as a mediating factor, utilizing social learning theory and psychological contract theory. Data were collected using the convenience sampling method, where the sample size was 320, from ten selected large-sized ceramic companies operating in Bangladesh. The structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data. Results infer that green HRM effectively enhances EK among employees and redirects their GV beyond the workplace. Additionally, EK substantially and positively mediates between the green HRM and GV relationship. The conclusions correspond to the recommendations are indicated in the relational psychological contract theory and the social learning theory. The findings have imperative theoretical and managerial ramifications since they address the knowledge gap in the literature and outline knowledge-enhancing green HRM practices that organizations may adopt to improve their green performance. The study also outlines actions for adopting green HRM activities in organizations, aligning the scope for improving employees’ EK and giving them the opportunities to practice green actions for sustainable social outcomes through their increased sense of GV.

Abstract The burgeoning growth of farm tourism necessitates a comprehensive exploration of the intricate relationships between environmental behavior, personal values, and visitor outcomes, emphasizing the imperative for sustainable practices and stewardship within these settings. The current study seeks to develop an integrative model to understand how power conservation and eco-logically aware behavior influence visitors’ ecological vision, sense of responsibility, well-being, and attachment outcomes, encompassing both place and product. Employing a structured questionnaire, data were gathered from farm tourists in Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia, and the structural model was analyzed using regression and mediation analyses to unravel the complex interactions among key variables. Results revealed that power conservation practices significantly contribute to visitors’ sense of responsibility for environmental protection, while ecologically aware behavior predicts a profound ecological vision. However, the structural equation model did not reveal significant mediation effects on well-being. The findings suggest the importance of targeted energy-saving initiatives and experiential activities to enhance ecological awareness. Integrating well-being considerations into sustainability programs and adopting transparent communication strategies can enrich the overall visitor experience, fostering a sustainable and fulfilling form of tourism.

This study explores the environmental behavior disparities between urban and rural residents in China due to socioeconomic status differences amidst social governance and institutional reform. Using OLS regression models on the 2021 China General Social Survey (CGSS) data, it analyzes the impact of socioeconomic status on environmental behaviors. This study reveals that urban residents generally exhibit better environmental behaviors than rural residents. Education and income are identified as critical drivers, with education raising environmental awareness and income driving participation in environmental activities. Urban residents benefit more from these factors. The policy recommendations are for the government to enhance rural education resources and improve education quality, ensuring that education poverty alleviation policies are effectively implemented to support rural development. Simultaneously, promoting rural economic growth and narrowing the urban–rural economic gap is crucial for improving rural environmental behavior and achieving urban–rural environmental harmony. Furthermore, the results call on the international community to focus on environmental governance systems, aiming to provide references for other developing countries in formulating environmental policies, thereby promoting the creation of a more just, eco-friendly, and sustainable global development framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unstable farm income and the desire to diversify revenue sources have increased the significance of agritourism as an alternative economic opportunity for farmers and ranchers. Agritourism integrates the top economic drivers—agriculture and tourism—and has been identified as a highly effective complementary business for farmers to generate additional income and mitigate the financial uncertainties associated with traditional farming enterprises. Visitors' satisfaction is critical for operating a successful agritourism business, as it influences destination choice, consumption of products and services, and the decision to return. This study examined the relationship between agritourism visitors' intrinsic motivation, environmental behavior, satisfaction, and intentions to revisit and recommend. With a total of 615 survey responses, the study reveals a significant relationship between agritourism visitors' intrinsic motivation, environmental behavior, and satisfaction related to destination, risk, and food attributes. Furthermore, visitors' overall satisfaction with these three attributes significantly influences their intentions to revisit and recommend the destination. The findings of this study will enable agritourism operators and policymakers to formulate appropriate policies for the sustainable development of this sector. Future promotional and educational tools could be developed based on these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concepts of sustainable consumption and production increased in popularity after the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. Moreover, the focus of attention was turned to the consumer and their key importance in achieving the goals of more sustainable practices. Hence, the main aim of this article is to present the influence of factors related to pro-ecological consumer behaviors on sustainable consumption including energy-use reduction. Epsilon regression was implemented as the research method. This statistical tool enabled the authors to carry out research on such complex phenomena and make the analysis immune to the high correlation among explanatory variables. Moreover, it allowed the authors to consider interactions in the set of diagnostic variables. The research presented in this paper is based on data drawn from the Barometer of Consumer Social Responsibility in Poland for 2022. As the final result of this research, a ranking of pro-ecological consumer behavior factors was constructed. On the one hand, not buying products using excessive packaging can be considered the most important factor of Polish pro-ecological consumer behaviors. On the other hand, trying to choose more ecological products with comparable prices can be regarded as the factor which has the smallest impact. Furthermore, the presented method also allowed for determining the contribution of individual factors to the pro-ecological behavior of consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A behavior's complexity may impact habit formation, with implications for habit-based public health and environmental intervention designs. However, there are varying conceptualizations of behavioral complexity, hindering the synthesis of findings. To develop a unified definition, the aim of this study was to explore perceptions of behavioral complexity and identify behaviors that exemplify aspects of complexity. Participants (N = 225) completed a questionnaire concerning the complexity of various health and environmental behaviors, the importance of complexity characteristics previously identified by researchers (novelty, difficulty, steps, planning, immediacy of reward, time, attention, skill, mental resources, self-efficacy, motivation for a behavior, and supportiveness of the context) and demographics. Participants considered all proposed characteristics to be important. Complex behaviors (e.g., abstaining from smoking and taking insulin shots), compared to simple behaviors (e.g., eating fruit and stretching), are more likely to be true to the previously identified characteristics. Perceived complexity is influenced by several salient characteristics. Results may contribute to a synthesized definition and underpin future research to better identify behavior change techniques to foster habitual behaviors of varying complexity. Hence, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers may identify common barriers and facilitators of behavior to target in interventions. However, further research is required to contextualize the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify the effect of some exploratory motor activities on the basic motor skills and environmental behavior of secondgrade female students. The researcher used the experimental method due to its suitability for the nature of the research with one of the experimental designs, which is the experimental design of one experimental group with the application of pre- and post-measurements for the group. The study sample was randomly selected from the students of Ibn Al-Khattab School affiliated to the West Shubra El-Kheima district, which consisted of (22) female students to whom the main study was applied, and (22) female students to whom the exploratory study was applied. The researcher used the growth rate measures, basic motor skills tests, environmental behavior observation card, and the illustrated environmental cognitive test. The most important results were the existence of statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-measurements for the experimental group in the level of motor performance of basic skills (walking, running, jumping, skipping, throwing, and catching), and some environmental behavior variables through motor exploration for second-grade female students in favor of the post-measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing the factors that influence maritime manufacturing firms’ environmental behavior is of significant theoretical and practical importance, particularly from a managerial cognition perspective. This study applies the regulatory focus theory to examine the complex relationship between environmental quality, regulation, and firms’ environmental actions. Our findings reveal a U-shaped relationship between regional environmental quality and local firms’ environmental consciousness. In regions with either better or poorer environmental conditions, firms demonstrate higher environmental consciousness. Specifically, firms in regions with better environmental quality exhibit a “promotion focus” on environmental issues, leading to proactive engagement in green innovation. Conversely, firms in regions with poor environmental quality adopt a “prevention focus” by pursuing ISO 14001 certification to maintain legitimacy and mitigate penalties. Moreover, we find that incentive regulations are more effective at stimulating green innovation among firms operating in regions with good environmental quality. In contrast, mandatory regulations drive higher ISO 14001 certification rates among firms located in areas with poor environmental quality. This study offers insights into the internal and external motivators of firms’ environmental behavior, contributing to the literature on corporate environmental responsibility. Additionally, it provides policy recommendations to encourage active participation in environmental initiatives among maritime manufacturing firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burgeoning growth of farm tourism necessitates a comprehensive exploration of the intricate relationships between environmental behavior, personal values, and visitor outcomes, emphasizing the imperative for sustainable practices and stewardship within these settings. The current study seeks to develop an integrative model to understand how power conservation and eco-logically aware behavior influence visitors' ecological vision, sense of responsibility, well-being, and attachment outcomes, encompassing both place and product. Employing a structured questionnaire, data were gathered from farm tourists in Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia, and the structural model was analyzed using regression and mediation analyses to unravel the complex interactions among key variables. Results revealed that power conservation practices significantly contribute to visitors' sense of responsibility for environmental protection, while ecologically aware behavior predicts a profound ecological vision. However, the structural equation model did not reveal significant mediation effects on well-being. The findings suggest the importance of targeted energy-saving initiatives and experiential activities to enhance ecological awareness. Integrating well-being considerations into sustainability programs and adopting transparent communication strategies can enrich the overall visitor experience, fostering a sustainable and fulfilling form of tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urban spaces that are designed in line with the principles of sustainability play a big role in creating green behavior patterns among citizens. This research aims to investigate the position of environmental design and compliance with the principles of sustainability in cities on the environmental model of citizens. Methods: The research uses a quantitative and qualitative and practical approach. The sample size consisted of 884 people, and data was collected through a questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS software. Also, the UCL Depthmap software and the space layout method were used to evaluate the structure of the spatial configuration, which has a significant correlation with the design of urban residential areas as indicated by previous studies. Results: The results showed that the highest average depth is related to the main entrance streets to Valiasr Street, Tajrish, and Chamran Highway in Tehran with a numerical value of 3.86, while the lowest numerical value recorded was 0.05. The high level of depth value shows that access to other spaces is done by passing through many intermediate spaces, and these spaces lack a clear and direct connection with each other. As a result, these spaces are characterized by limited movement patterns. Among the factors considered by citizens, the most influential factor was "no urban air pollution", with a coefficient of 0.91, followed by the index of "cleanliness of urban roads" with a weight of 0.86. The lowest weight belongs to the "Urban open spaces" index, which scored 0.59. Conclusion: In conclusion, the establishment of sustainable urban development indicators can prompt behavioral changes in citizens, leading them to align their behavioral patterns with environmental considerations. Certain indicators, such as emphasizing air quality, implementing effective waste management practices for green spaces and urban parks, and promoting the presence of tourist attractions in the city, are more important compared to other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need to protect and sustain environmental resources for future generation remains sacrosanct in global sustainability agenda. This study was aimed at exploring the interplay between environmental conservation and spirituality from a multicultural perspective. While studies on "spirituality" have monumentally gained global attention, a growing number of evidence underscore the critical role of spiritual resources available for ensuring environmental stewardship. In this present study, attempt was made to respond to some critical questions: Is there any significant association between spirituality and environmental responsibility? What is the impact of spiritual leadership on environmental conservation? What key messages do spiritual leaders need to prioritize to encourage environmental conservation? And what are some of the spirituality-related predictors of willingness to engage in global environmental conservation efforts among the respondents? To determine this nexus between spirituality and environmentalism, a cross-sectional study design was adopted. Primary data were collected by means of a validated and adapted instrument from various literature searches. Data collected from a sample of 1,438 respondents were entered on Excel spreadsheet and eventually exported on SPSS version 21 for further analysis. Every segment of the instrument used yielded a Cronbach's alpha reliability test result of no less than 0.70. Descriptive statistics and ordinal logistics regression analysis were employed. The findings revealed that majority of respondents expressed a high level of spirituality (p value < 0.05). Majority (70%) of the respondents believe that everyone has a duty of care toward nature. More than two-third (> 60.0%) would be more inclined to observing environmental conservative measures if their spiritual leaders would continue to give exemplary teachings on environmental conservation. While a few indicators of spirituality yielded direct correlation with the willingness to engage in global environmental conservation efforts, most of the selected indicators reflect willingness. Some of these (predictors) include how often respondents pray, meditate, and fast; caring about people, animals, and the planet; being just happy to be alive; etc. In conclusion, this study reasoned that spirituality could indeed serve as a foundation for environmental conservation campaigns and could reinforce pro-environmental behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study aimed to determine the interaction between internal and external factors of consumers indicated by perceived values, green products, and environmental behavior on customers’ decisions to purchase fast food restaurants’ eco-friendly products indicated by green trust and repurchase intention variables. This research involved 336 respondents and employed a survey as an inquiry method. The findings show that consumers’ internal factors, namely perceived values, and external factors, namely green products, could significantly affect green trust and repurchase intention that represented the decision of purchasing environmentally friendly products. Meanwhile, the environmental behavior could not influence the consumers to purchase eco-friendly products from fast food restaurants. Finally, this research contributes to a consumer investigation to determine the effects of consumers’ internal and external factors to buy eco-friendly products.

Knowledge about the relative environmental impact and climate-protective potential of different actions (effectiveness knowledge) is important for successful sustainable action. However, there is currently no scale for measuring effectiveness knowledge that meets psychometric quality criteria. We developed a new scale consisting of 16 ranking and choice tasks and tested it on a convenience sample of 278 people from Germany in an online study. The final scale version achieved a reliability of rel = 0.655. This is significantly higher than the reliability of 0.329 achieved by an established knowledge scale used for comparison. Inter-correlation of both scales was moderate to strong, but the new scale is able to explain 3% additional variance in high-impact pro-environmental behavior when controlling for environmental attitude, whereas the established scale is not explaining any additional variance, indicating incremental validity of our scale. We conclude that it is possible to use ranking tasks to measure effectiveness knowledge more reliably in a test-efficient way and provide a set of items which are usable in the contemporary German context.

IntroductionPrecarious milieus more frequently suffer from environmental risks and show lower environmental awareness and behavior than other milieus in the German population. This study investigates the factors that influence environmental awareness in precarious milieus and the roles of environmental knowledge and the perception of environment-related health burdens.MethodsA quantitative secondary data analysis of the German Environmental Awareness Study 2018 (N = 2017) was used to analyze the perception of environmental health burdens, environmental knowledge, and environmental awareness between precarious milieus (n = 190) and seven other milieus. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc tests were used for this purpose. More in-depth analyses of the precarious milieus were carried out using multiple regression analyses.ResultsThere were significant differences in the perceptions of environmental health burdens affected by rail-traffic noise and neighborhood noise. Furthermore, environmental knowledge in precarious milieus was significantly lower than in five out of the seven other milieus (all p

Religious attributes affecting Christians’ environmentalism have received considerable attention since the publication of Lynn White's thesis in 1967, which accused Christianity as the root cause of the ecological crisis. This study aims to assess the relationship between Christianity and environmentalism in Hong Kong, an Asian city where Christianity has been introduced for just more than two centuries. In general, Hong Kong Christians had a stronger willingness to sacrifice for the environment as compared to non‐Christians. Both stewardship worldview and Christian justice and love were identified as the main drivers for environmentalism in Christians, which can be further improved via church environmental education. Our findings provide a particular example to broaden the diversity of the Christianity‐environmentalism nexus and highlight the functional role of stewardship worldview in the Hong Kong context. However, we also call for stronger environmental education in Hong Kong's church to bridge the willingness‐behavior gap among local Christians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes (cVMS) have now become a subject of environmental contamination and risk assessment due to their widespread use and occurrence in different environmental matrices. Due to their exceptional physio-chemical properties, these compounds are diversely used for formulations of consumer products and others implying their continuous and significant release to environmental compartments. This has captured the major attention of the concerned communities on the grounds of potential health hazards to human and biota. The present study aims at comprehensively reviewing its occurrence in air, water, soil, sediments, sludge, dusts, biogas, biosolids, and biota and their environmental behavior as well. Concentrations of cVMS in indoor air and biosolids were higher; however, no significant concentrations were observed in water, soil, and sediments except for wastewaters. No threat to the aquatic organisms has been identified as their concentrations do not exceed the NOEC (maximum no observed effect concentration) thresholds. Mammalian (rodents) toxicity hazards were not very evident except for the occurrence of uterine tumors in very rare cases under long-term chronic and repeated dose exposures in laboratory conditions. Human relevancy to rodents were also not strongly enough established. Therefore, more careful examinations are required to develop stringent weight of evidences in scientific domain and ease the policy making with respect to their production and use so as to combat any environmental consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploiting the staggered implementation of board gender quotas in Europe, this study examines their effect on firms' environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. I find that firms' environmental and social performance increases subsequent to the quotas and the rise of women's representation on the board. I explore the mechanisms at play and show that the effect is driven by more ESG committees, improved innovation, resource use, and human rights considerations. The positive quota effect on environmental and social outcomes is strongest for less publicly exposed firms. My cross-sectional results suggest that the quota effect is partly crowded out by the positive sustainability effect of public pressure. Taken together, my results point towards positive spillover effects of a governance regulation on other sustainability dimensions. Further, they provide an understanding of the mechanisms behind these effects, relevant to policymakers and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the relationship between vicarious experiences of nature, environmental behavioral beliefs, environmental attitudes and adolescents' environmental behavior. Based on a sample of 1476 adolescents from five high schools in Jiangsu Province, China, we proposed a model that was supported by structural equation modelling analysis. The model suggests that vicarious experiences of nature are positively associated with adolescents' environmental behavior. Environmental attitudes and environmental behavioral beliefs play partial mediator roles in the relationship of vicarious experiences of nature and environmental behavior. In addition to the significant direct impact of vicarious experiences of nature on environmental behavior, indirect effects are also achieved through behavioral beliefs, environmental attitudes and the serial multiple mediation effect of the two variables. These research results imply that we must pay attention to the important role of vicarious experiences of nature in cultivating adolescents' environmental behavior. In addition, the theoretical and practical implications of this research are discussed, as well as the limitations and potential for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of urban population aging in China, enhancing the quality of community living environments for the elderly has become crucial. Traditional residential planning focused on functionality, neglecting the elderly's active participation and mutual aid needs. This paper proposes the development of urban community environments promoting "living mutual aid" to improve elderly life quality and practice active aging. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, the study identifies key components of mutual aid, explores the relationship between mutual aid behaviors and spatial composition, and outlines strategies for designing community environments that support mutual aid. Based on "active aging" theory, the study qualitatively summarizes the concept of mutual aid among the elderly through literature and policy analysis. Surveys, interviews, and observations in Xi'an's typical communities were conducted, with results analyzed using factor and frequency analysis. The study categorizes mutual aid activities and behavior characteristics, and explores the relationship between behavior and spatial needs using environmental behavior theory. It identifies mutual aid space units and suggests types, paths, strategies, and methods for integrating these units into community environments. The findings provide scientific guidance for urban community planning and valuable references for creating elderly-friendly urban habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental Literacy (EL) is recognized as a fundamental component in directing individuals' environmental preservation behavior. This descriptive-correlation research was conducted with the main objective of explaining the environmental literacy of ecovillages' students. Data were collected from 175 high school students, selected through census, living in eco-villages in western Iran (n= 175). Findings showed that students' EL was moderate. Three dimensions of EL, including knowledge, attitude, and behavior, were higher in students living in developed Eco-villages than in developing and less developed Eco-villages. Gender, father's job, field of study, and level of Eco-village development had a significant effect on students' EL. However, the effect of educational level and participation in environmental training courses was insignificant. The results of stepwise regressions revealed that the number of years of parents' education religiosity, study hours per week, and satisfaction with living in rural areas explain 49% of the variance of students' environmental literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As emerging persistent pollutants, microplastics cause global environmental problems that cannot be ignored. Research on microplastics pollution in soil is lagging and lacking compared in water environment. This paper reviews the research progress of source, analytical method, environmental behavior, and ecological effects of microplastics in soil environment and urgent problems of microplastics in soil environment. The source and input path of microplastics in soil were introduced in detail. The separation and analysis methods of microplastics in soil and the advantages and disadvantages were summarized. The environmental behavior of microplastics in soil was analyzed, including migration, degradation and interaction with other pollutants in soil. The ecological effects of microplastics in soil were described, including the effects on soil physi cal and chemical properties, soil microorganisms, soil animals and plants. The future research directions and emphases on microplastics in soil environment were prospected. The source control of microplastics in soil, the law and mechanism of interaction with other pollutants, and the risk assessment of combined pollution on human health are the difficulties and focuses in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the widespread use as flame retardants, plasticizers, and organophosphate esters (OPEs) received increasing scientific interests on their occurrence and ecotoxicological research progress. This review comprehensively conducted bibliometric analysis and surveyed the OPEs occurrence in aquatic ecosystem (water, sediment, and aquatic organisms) and human-related (drinking water and sewage) over the past decade to unraveling knowledge gaps. The OPEs concentrations in water, sediment were at the range of not detected (n.d.) or several to hundreds ng/g or ng/L and exhibited landuses-specific characteristics. The electronic waste (e-waste) processing activities and sewage discharge were identified as point sources of OPEs in aquatic environment. Emission source intensity, water chemistry, and content of organic carbon were important for the partition and transfer processes of OPEs in the water, as well as hydrophobicity of OPEs dominating the absorption on the organic matter. Degradation, especially photodegradation and reductive degradation, has application potential in improving removal efficiencies of chlorinated-OPEs (Cl-OPEs) being reluctant to degrade. Generally, most surveyed OPEs have negligible ecological and health risks, whereas those OPEs with moderate threats or chronic effects on aquatic ecosystem should gain more attention. This review elucidates the status of OPEs pollution in water and highlights the need for more transport and degradation studies on traditional and emerging OPEs and metabolites to further identify potential threats on aquatic ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this article is to evaluate the impact of dynamic indicators associated with urban spaces on the environmental behavior of residents in Shanghai, China. With the city experiencing rapid urbanization and increasing environmental concerns, it is crucial to understand how the design and management of urban spaces can encourage pro-environmental attitudes and actions among the population. The study specifically focuses on dynamic indicators, namely vitality, accessibility, quality, and walkability, to develop a comprehensive understanding of the utilization and experience of urban spaces. The research outcomes will make valuable contributions towards Shanghai's objectives of achieving environmental sustainability, while also providing insights that have broader relevance to sustainable urban development globally. As the built environment significantly influences energy consumption, resource utilization, pollution generation, and overall human wellbeing, attaining urban sustainability is of paramount importance. The findings of this study will aid in informing strategies and policies that promote sustainable practices, not only benefiting Shanghai but also serving as a valuable resource for urban development initiatives worldwide. Sustainable urban design principles, including compactness, density, mixed land use, greening, and walkability, have been associated with pro-environmental behaviors, including reduced reliance on automobiles, increased walking and cycling, and heightened environmental consciousness. Nevertheless, the relationship between the built environment and sustainability behaviors is intricate and is influenced by multiple factors. Consequently, further research is necessary to comprehend how specific spatial and temporal dynamics impact environmental behaviors within urban settings. In this study, an artificial neural network (ANN) was developed to estimate the quality and walkability of an area and environmental behaviors by considering the augmented vitality and accessibility factors. The ANN's predictions demonstrate that higher levels of vitality and accessibility positively contribute to improved walkability and environmental behaviors. The accuracy of the ANN's predictions was assessed using linear regression, which yielded acceptable error rates when compared with experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to better understand the mechanisms that connect climate change perceptions and general willingness to engage in pro-environmental behavior using Spanish cross-sectional data (N = 403) that included 102 members of environmental organizations. To do this, we first developed and validated the General Willingness for Environmental Behavior Scale (GWEBS), which includes the classical approach of voluntarily doing new actions but also actions implying not doing things (degrowth) and actions forced by social constraints. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit for the one-factor structure, which had adequate validity based on their relationship with other variables. Additionally, the GWEBS distinguished between women and men, left- and right-oriented people, and people who belonged to pro-environmental groups and people who did not. In the second place, we tested the parallel mediator role of eco-anxiety and trust in science in the relationship between climate change perceptions and the GWEBS. The results showed that eco-anxiety fully mediated and trust in science partially mediated such a relationship, making them crucial in terms of mobilizing the intention to act according to perceptions. This study contributes to understanding the psychological mechanisms that eventually drive pro-environmental behaviors and provides a clear direction for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriately designed and implemented climate mitigation actions have multiple co-benefits (yet some trade-offs cannot be excluded) that result in substantial social and economic value beyond their direct impact on reducing energy consumption and GHG emissions. Despite their wider acknowledgement by the research community, decision makers and the public have incomplete information on these multiple effects. This paper has a twofold objective: First, through analytical bottom-up approaches, it assesses, in quantitative terms, the macroeconomic effects and the public health benefits attributed to a variety of mitigation actions under consideration in the context of the Greek Energy and Climate Plan. Second, it investigates, through a social survey, how citizens perceive climate change and value these multiple impacts of mitigation actions, and to what extent they are willing to pay for them and support the adoption of policy measures aiming at the green transition of the Greek economy. We show that mitigation actions bring about significant health benefits, particularly in cities, and generate significant positive macroeconomic effects, particularly if mitigation actions focus on the decarbonization of the building sector and on the exploitation of local renewable sources. We also argue that most people do not realize that climate mitigation actions can have wider benefits for society, such as tackling energy poverty, improving public health, and creating new jobs. Unwillingness to pay tends to be the prominent attitude. People who are more reluctant to cover a part of the cost of environmental protection are less likely to perceive that climate change is one of the main challenges at global and national level and support the adoption of climate mitigation policies. In this context, the national strategy for climate change should focus on effectively informing and engaging the public in climate mitigation strategies, strengthening the public trust in government institutions, promoting mutually acceptable solutions with the local communities, and providing incentives for changing citizens' behavior towards climate-related actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Green human resource management contributes to developing an eco-friendly culture by influencing employee green behavior. This study intends to examine the role of green human resource management on voluntary and innovative work eco-friendly behavior using the mediating effect of environmental knowledge. This study examined the direct relationship between Green human resource management practices (recruitment, training and development, compensation, performance appraisal, and employee involvement) and green employee behavior (voluntary and green innovative work behavior). This addresses the growing environmental challenges and the need for sustainable business practices. In order to promote environmentally conscious behavior at work, employers can benefit from the study’s implications. METHODS: This study evaluated how environmental knowledge mediates the connection between the green human resource management practices and environmental behavior. Data was drawn from 15 firms in the Indian service sector. To analyze a quantified data set collected through a survey method using structured questionnaire and sent to all respondents through Google forms online survey by using simple random sampling technique. All analyses were conducted using “Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. FINDINGS: The analysis showed that green human resource management practices positively affect employee green behavior. Specifically, the results indicate that green recruitment, compensation, and employee involvement were positively related to one dimension of employee green behavior (green innovative work behavior). Green Performance appraisal was also found to affect green voluntary behavior positively. The path coefficients were positive, when the model’s path coefficients (β) and t-statistics were used to evaluate the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, t- value should greater than 1.96 and p value should be greater than 0.05, in this study the following hypotheses are statistically significant (H1c: β=0.392, P<0:000; H2a: β=-0.391, P<0.044; H2d: β=0.348, P<0.000; H2e: β=0.255, P<0:001; H3b: β=-0.297, P<0.000; H3de: β=0.239, P=0.049; H3e: β=0.545, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: This study examined how employees’ environmental knowledge can affect their employee green behavior through green human resource management practices. Environmental knowledge cannot mediate the association between a few green human resources management practices and Employee green behavior, according to the outcomes of the study. Effective green HRM strategies can influence employees’ green knowledge, affecting their employee green behavior. The significance of green human resource management in greening businesses, especially in the service sector, is highlighted, especially in an emerging country like India. This research presents an overview of the study’s findings, limitations, and implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Asian Journals of Ecotoxicology is the property of Gai Kan Bian Wei Hui and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigates the impact of composter management practices on the environmental awareness and behavior of young children about waste reduction. This research included observations, interviews, and the direct participation of children to identify the changes in their understanding of recycling organic waste into compost, which is beneficial for plants. The research findings indicate that children actively participate in substantial conversations regarding the composting process and recognize the vital role of organic waste management for the environment. This study emphasizes the importance of teachers in guiding children to identify and comprehend the distinctions between organic and inorganic waste by focusing on the process of managing composters. Children's active involvement in managing composters leads to behavioral changes such as enhanced awareness of the waste recycling process, commitment to environmental sustainability, and engagement in practical efforts to reduce landfill waste.

Currently, with the intensification of global education competition, how to cultivate innovative and versatile talents has become the focus of education today. Informal learning spaces (ILS) have received widespread attention due to their benefits for interdisciplinary interaction. Many forms of ILS have been built, and coffee shops are one of them. However, there is no uniform standard for the design of cafes as ILS, and there are many problems with the spatial quality. This study took a university cafe as a case study and conducted research on the environmental quality and influencing factors from the perspective of environmental behavior. In terms of research methods, this study adopted a combination of ultra-wideband positioning, questionnaire surveys, and environmental data measurements. This research method could obtain the complete relationship between user behavior, time, and location, which improved the shortcomings of traditional research methods of fragmented and accidental data acquisition, and helped to obtain more accurate research results. The study identified the impact proportions of four criteria layer elements and 26 scheme layer factors, which was also the main contribution of this study. In terms of four criteria layer elements, the physical elements had the highest proportion, accounting for 32.46%. The ontology elements ranked second, accounting for 27.07%. The atmosphere elements ranked third, accounting for 24.19%. Finally, facility elements accounted for 16.29%. The top three scheme layer factors were equipment and facilities, noise, and illumination, with weights of 11.18%, 10.71%, and 8.35%, respectively. The study summarized the development directions of cafes as ILS, such as considering the learning needs of different groups, installing sound-absorbing and soundproof devices, adding grilles to external windows, and improving glare problems.

Dicamba is a post-herbicide, showing some activity in soil, and its dynamics can be influenced by several factors, including the presence of straw. Brazil has more than 50% of its production area in a no-till system; thus, a good amount of the herbicide is intercepted by the straw. This study aimed to evaluate dicamba dynamics in straw and weed control efficacy when sprayed as a PRE herbicide. For this, five different studies were conducted: we utilized different straw amounts (1) and different drought periods (2) for straw sprayed with dicamba and dicamba + glyphosate to evaluate its release from straw, different straw amounts (3), different drought periods (4), and wet and dry straw (5) to evaluate pre-emergence weed control (Bidens pilosa and Ipomoea grandifolia) and dicamba availability in medium-texture soil. Around 80% of dicamba was released from the straw after 100 mm of rainfall. One day after dicamba application, 65–70% of dicamba was released from the straw with 20 mm of rainfall, while for 7 and 14 DAA, 60% was released. Dicamba was efficient in controlling the pre-emergence of both species studied, and the amount of straw did not interfere in weed control; however, dicamba was less available in the soil after rainfall when sprayed in the straw than when sprayed directly in the soil. Up to 80% of dicamba can be released from the straw after 100 mm of rainfall and weed control was efficient for the species studied; however, the carryover effect in sensitive crops might become an issue.

This paper focuses on the hitherto less explored issue regarding the nature of the relationship between firms' green mode (including setting environmental targets, monitoring environmental burden, and adopting measures against environmental burden) and the production of process innovations. For these purposes, we focus on the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which, together with their eastern neighbors, have historically represented the main polluters of the European environment. By using the World Bank Enterprise Survey and data from 3,299 firms in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia and the binary logistic regression, we provide evidence that a firm's green mode expressed, for example, by its monitoring of energy consumption or adoption of measures of environmental burden, can significantly trigger its introduction of process innovations. Moreover, we show that a firm's membership in firm groups increases its chances to introduce process innovations. In contrast, we show that firm age does not play a role in our analyses. Our results contribute to the innovation and sustainability literature, especially to the ongoing discussion regarding the innovation and environmental performance of Central and Eastern European countries. In addition, we note several practical implications of our research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Science & Sustainable Production is the property of University of Tabriz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the behavioral drivers of food waste reduction among rural households. The conceptual basis of this study was the theory of planned behavior (TPB), which aims to explain the relationship between intention, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control of villagers. This study extends the TPB by including new constructs such as environmental concerns, guilt, and habit. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted through a survey. To collect data, a researcher-made questionnaire inspired by other studies was designed and validated. In order to ensure the validity of the questionnaire, the initial version was first reviewed by a team of academic experts in the field of environmental behaviors to check its content validity. Then, based on the experts' feedback, the constructs and items of each were reviewed again. By conducting a pre-test study outside the research population, the reliability of the research tool was evaluated. For this purpose, a pilot study was conducted among 30 villagers of Piranshahr. In order to estimate the reliability of the research tool, Cronbach's alpha coefficients were calculated. Cronbach's alpha values for the latent constructs/variables were in the range of 0.70 to 0.90, which were higher than the recommended threshold value of 0.70. In addition, to measure the reflective model, standard factor loading values, t-value, convergent validity, and divergent (discriminant) validity were evaluated. Composite reliability (CR) was used to estimate the reliability and evaluate the internal consistency of the studied constructs in the final stages of the research. The results of the final reliability and validity assessment revealed that all observed values for these criteria are within the acceptable ranges. The target population of the study consisted of all the villagers of Naghadeh County with a wide variety of social backgrounds (N=36764). The sample size was determined using the sampling table of Krejcie and Morgan. The table's recommended sample size was 384 cases. The sampling method of the present study was stratified random with proportional assignment. For this purpose, the county was first divided into two parts: central and Mohammadyar and finally cases were randomly selected from the village. Data were collected through a survey and analyzed using structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results and Discussion: The results showed that subjective norms, attitude, and perceived behavioral control significantly affected the intention to reduce food waste. Similarly, the two drivers of guilt and environmental concern also positively influenced intention. In addition, the direct effects of the two variables of intention and habit on waste reduction behavior were statistically significant. Conclusion: Since sustained intrinsic motivation or strong intentions are required to maintain long-term behavior, therefore, it is recommended that policies and programs on the development and evaluation of behavioral interventions aimed at promoting food waste reduction behavior be broadly based on strengthening the intention of the villagers. If there are favorable conditions and incentives, people will be more willing to reduce food waste. The findings of this study have useful insights for government agencies, policymakers, health and treatment centers, agricultural extension and education agents, and academics who are interested in developing strategies to reduce food waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]