Environmental Education Research Articles

Inventário e Análise da Arborização de praças no município de Campo Belo, MG

Due to the population growth in urban areas, it is necessary to rethink city planning. Parks, as accessible green spaces, play an important role in providing leisure, social interaction, education, and ecosystem services, contributing to improving quality of life.he objective was to carry out a qualitative and quantitative inventory of trees located in Cônego Ulisses and Menotti d’Áurea squares in Campo Belo, Minas Gerais. On-site data collection included identification, measurement (DBH, height, and cankers), and visual assessment (inadequate pruning, mechanical damage, apparent nutritional deficit, and pests). By cross-referencing the data, a classification of the trees' phytosanitary status was conducted. A total of 257 trees were found, with 70% belonging to native species and classified as large-sized. Only 3.5% of the trees showed apparent nutritional deficits. Regarding pests, 4.66% suffered attacks by termites, 5.44% by borers, and two individuals were attacked by caterpillars. It was observed that 10.89% had larger canker dimensions. It was noted that 43.97% of the trees were pruned irregularly, outside of the recommended technical standards, and three species suffered mechanical damage due to vandalism. It was identified that 52% of the trees classified under criterion III (precarious tree) were Pau Ferro. The inventory in the squares showed a predominance of native species, but planning for the planting of new specimens should respect specific diversity criteria. Monitoring needs to be carried out, and replanting planning should prioritize the replacement of precarious trees. Training should be provided for professionals performing pruning, and environmental education strategies should be developed for the population.

Decoding determinants of pro-environmental behaviors of higher education students: insights for sustainable future

Purpose The investigation of pro-environmental behaviors (PEB) among college students is essential for future sustainability endeavors. Existing research seldomly concentrated on college students and their PEB. This study aims to address the gap in understanding PEB among college students. Design/methodology/approach This study constructed an integrated model combining the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the value-belief-norm (VBN) theory, with the novel addition of environmental risk perception. Through an empirical study involving 844 college students, this research analyzed the data with the structural model. Findings The authors identified that environmental values, attitudes, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms and risk perception play crucial roles in shaping PEB. This study also revealed age-related differences, highlighting that older students might be less influenced by attitudes and subjective norms due to more established habits. Findings underscore the importance of fostering PEB through environmental education, promotion of low-carbon lifestyle choices and incentives. This investigation not only enriches the theoretical framework for PEB but also offers practical insights for policymakers and educators to enhance sustainable practices among the youth. Research limitations/implications Though the authors offer valuable findings, this research has two key limitations: the use of observational data for hypothesis testing, which weakens causal inference, and the collection of data through questionnaires, which may be biased by social desirability. Respondents of self-report tend to behave in the socially desired ways. Consequently, they usually exaggerate their pro-environmental intention or PEB. To comprehend the influencing aspects more thoroughly, future research should consider incorporating experimental methods and objective data, such as digitalized data. Practical implications The findings provide valuable evidence for guiding college students’ PEB, including strengthening environmental education, promoting of low-carbon fashion and providing incentives for PEBs. Originality/value First, the authors examine the internal factors influencing PEB among Chinese university students within the “dual-carbon” initiative framework. Second, this research pioneers the use of structural equation modeling to merge TPB and VBN theories, offering a predictive model for university students’ PEB. Third, the authors introduce “environmental risk perception” as a novel variable derived from both TPB and VBN, enhancing the model’s explanatory power.

Conservation perceptions and attitudes regarding monitor lizards in West Bengal, India

Local and illegal exploitation of wildlife is particularly widespread in highly populated and bio-diverse countries such as India. In such countries, illicit utilization practices and how these are perceived among local communities are commonly not well-documented. Due to a lack of data, and environmental education measures to protect ecosystems and biodiversity, the extent of this exploitation appears immense and often goes unnoticed. Therefore, in 2019, a series of awareness workshops targeting the conservation of wildlife focused on monitor lizards (Varanidae) was conducted in five districts of West Bengal, India. The environmental awareness workshops were conducted through PowerPoint slide presentations and questionnaires collecting baseline data from the participants regarding their perceptions and relationships to the three species of Varanus recorded for West Bengal. Our findings reveal specific human attitudes and varying local utilization patterns of monitor lizards. This study was the first to communicate and spread awareness in the study areas about why the conservation of local wildlife such as Varanus species is important for ecosystems and human well-being based on the ‘Nature Contributions to People Concept’.

Students’ Perception Towards Solid Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Campus, Awka

Nigeria’s rising population makes waste generation an inevitable endeavour. In the journey of national development, waste generation is static. With a population of over 170 million, Nigeria produces a staggering volume of solid waste, of which less than 20% is collected through a formal system. Waste generation on the Nnamdi Azikiwe University campus, Awka, has remained contentious as generated waste is neither categorised nor recycled for re-usage purposes. The survey research method was adopted for this research, with the questionnaire utilised as research instrument. This study included the entire population due to size manageability. Statistically, descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were fit for purpose and, hence, utilised. Findings revealed that biological processing of waste and environmental waste management education would result in the environmental sustainability of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University campus, Awka. This study recommends that the university management prioritise building a biological waste processing facility and champion the creation of environmental waste management education awareness for improved harmful waste generation and control.

The role of motivation and knowledge in promoting green consumer behavior in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

This research explores the factors influencing consumers’ intentions and behaviors toward purchasing green products in two culturally and economically distinct countries, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Drawing on Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the study examines the roles of altruistic and egoistic motivations, alongside environmental knowledge, in shaping green consumer behavior. Altruistic motivation, driven by concern for societal well-being and environmental sustainability, is found to have a stronger impact on green purchase intention and behavior in both countries, particularly in Pakistan. Egoistic motivation, which focuses on personal benefits like health and cost savings, also contributes but with a lesser influence. The research employs a cross-sectional survey design, collecting data from 1000 respondents (500 from each country) using a stratified random sampling technique. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships between variables and test the moderating effects of environmental knowledge. The results reveal that environmental knowledge significantly moderates the effect of both altruistic and egoistic motivations on green purchase intention, enhancing the likelihood of eco-friendly consumption. These findings underscore the importance of environmental education in promoting sustainable consumer behavior. The originality of this study lies in its comparative analysis of green consumerism in two distinct contexts and its exploration of motivational factors through the TPB framework. Practical implications suggest that policymakers and marketers can develop strategies that appeal to both altruistic and egoistic drivers while enhancing consumer knowledge of environmental issues. The study contributes to the literature by expanding TPB to include the moderating role of environmental knowledge in understanding green consumption behavior across diverse cultures.

Human and Nature in Physical Education and Health: A Diffractive Analysis of Policy Documents

Abstract The research field of physical education and health (PEH) holds a great potential for exploring environmental issues, but the interest has been scarce. In this paper, we aim to trouble the separation of humans and nature, which has long been reproduced in PEH research and practice. To frame the problem, we turn to environmental education (EE) research, where scholars have argued that the human/nature divide serves as a foundation for environmental degradation. Drawing on Karen Barad’s posthumanist framework of agential realism, we explore the emerging conceptualisations of humans and nature when Swedish PEH policy documents are diffractively read through previous research, the concept of agential cuts and our own historicities. The analysis is presented through three diffraction patterns emerging around movement, health and indoors/outdoors, phenomena which are central not only to PEH but also to EE. We conclude that thinking with diffraction can open spaces within PEH educational policy for reimagining existing binaries between humans and nature. In this way, PEH practice might contribute to troubling the foundations for environmental injustices and issues of unsustainability.

Evaluating the impact of place-based education: insights from a river environmental program in Taiwan

PurposeThe current education paradigm is often criticized for fostering human dependence and failing to reduce environmental impacts. This has led researchers to propose alternative approaches. One alternative approach, place-based education, integrates a specific location’s natural and social context into learning experiences. By deepening students’ connection to their surroundings, place-based environmental education aims to enhance students’ sense of interdependence with a place and their place attachment in cognitive and affective dimensions. While widely practiced, its effectiveness remains largely unevaluated, particularly in the East Asian context. The gap hinders the development of impactful pedagogical approaches for educators.Design/methodology/approachThe authors examine a river environmental education program located upstream of Taiwan’s capital, offering a valuable case study within the East Asian context. The program’s design is analyzed, and its impact on enhancing students’ place attachment is assessed through a pre- and post-survey approach.FindingsThe results indicate a substantial increase in students’ place attachment following program participation, particularly pronounced among children with limited prior experience with the river. Importantly, this increase is comparable to or exceeds those observed in similar studies from other regions.Originality/valueThe considerable increase in place attachment observed in this program demonstrates its effectiveness in fostering environmental connections, particularly among children with limited prior experience. The magnitude of the increase might be partially attributable to the interdependent orientation of Taiwanese culture. This suggests that place-based education might yield significant positive outcomes in other non-Western countries with strong interdependent cultural orientations.

Education for sustainable development in China: experiences from school teachers’ perspectives and enactments

AbstractGiven the rapid development of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the global north and south, the status of ESD in Chinese primary education remains underexplored. Teachers, who play a critical role as education stakeholders in enacting and spreading the influences of ESD, have been largely overlooked in ESD research focusing on China. This paper therefore aimed to narrow this research gap and provide an empirical snapshot illustrating the progress of ESD through the eyes of Chinese primary school teachers. Drawing on an analysis of 151 questionnaires and 25 semi-structured interviews, the study finds that ESD is primarily interpreted as environmental education and often linked through the literal connections of 'sustainability', 'education', and 'development'. ESD is enacted mainly through school activities, policies, curricula, and extracurricular opportunities, though inconsistencies in implementation are evident. The findings provides empirical evidence of ESD in Chinese primary education and build foundations for further investigation into how ESD can be more effectively integrated and practiced within China’s educational system.

Current Situation and Countermeasures of Teaching Environmental Design in Colleges and Universities

This paper takes the environmental design major in colleges and universities as the research object, and analyzes the teaching status quo of the environmental design major in colleges and universities in China, and finds that there are problems such as the curriculum is out of line with the social demand, the practical teaching resources are insufficient, the structure of the teaching staff is unreasonable, and the students' innovation ability is insufficient, and so on. Aiming at these problems, this paper puts forward a series of countermeasures and suggestions, including optimizing the curriculum and teaching content, strengthening the construction of practical teaching system, improving the overall level of the teaching staff, and stimulating students' innovative potential and practical ability. The results of the study have certain theoretical reference value for promoting the reform and development of environmental design professional education in colleges and universities in China.

Community nature journaling: wellbeing and learning outcomes for adult and youth participants

ABSTRACT Nature journaling is a practice embedded within the principles of environmental education and experienced a resurgence as a therapeutic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using sociocultural theories of learning to understand when and how people learn in out-of-school, outdoor settings, this study explored the perceived benefits and learning outcomes stemming from a public community nature journal (CNJ) program. This qualitative research study was conducted over a 12-month period with 153 individuals (112 adults, 41 youth) who were surveyed about their wellbeing and learning outcomes from the program. Thematic analysis of the surveys indicated that community and fellowship was a central component of enjoyment for adults attending the CNJ program, while youth participants appreciated natural history encounters built into the program. This research suggests that nature journaling has the potential to mitigate social isolation among older adults, while fostering a deep sense of awareness of the natural world for younger generations.

Awareness on Carbon Footprints Among Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Students

In this study, we aimed to investigate the awareness and actions related to carbon footprints among Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (Polisas) students. As the world's greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise globally, it is critical to assess people's attitudes and actions in tackling this environmental challenge, especially those of the younger generation. In addition to evaluating the students' views about the impacts of carbon emissions, the study also studied the students' actions to reduce carbon emissions. The study attempted to measure the carbon footprint values of Polisas students based on their daily activities using the Polisas Carbon Footprint Calculator. Using data from their regular monthly activities, students may estimate their carbon footprint with the help of this simple application, which helps them gain a better awareness of their environmental effects. Important information about the attitudes and behaviours of 406 participating students regarding carbon emissions was obtained through the distribution of questionnaires to them. The respondents' data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and the results showed an average high mean of 3.68 for attitudes towards carbon emissions and 3.60 for actions connected to lowering carbon emissions. It suggests a positive inclination among Polisas students towards environmental consciousness and sustainable practices. The findings further highlight the monthly carbon footprint of Polisas students, calculated at 3287.14 kg of CO2. To contextualize this data, the Polisas Carbon Footprint Calculator recommends planting an average of 104 plants per month, equivalent to four trees per day, to offset their carbon emissions. It gives students a tangible understanding of their carbon footprint and encourages them to actively participate in carbon offsetting initiatives actively, fostering a sense of responsibility for their environmental impact. In conclusion, this study contributes valuable insights into the awareness, attitudes, and practices of Polisas students regarding carbon footprints. The implications of this study extend to the development of targeted environmental education programs and initiatives to enhance student's understanding of their contributions to carbon emissions. Moreover, the findings underscore the potential for instituting campus-wide sustainability measures and encouraging students to actively engage in carbon offsetting activities, thereby fostering a more environmentally conscious and responsible student community at Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah.

From Trash to Treasure: Assessing the Effectiveness of the Green@Community Recycling Network in Hong Kong

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a growing problem worldwide posing a variety of environmental and human health impacts. Despite recycling being one major strategy to alleviate MSW production, the effectiveness of recycling has been equivocally dependent on local policy implementation and citizen environmental behavior. To enhance recycling effectiveness in Hong Kong, the government has established Green@Community, a unified community-based network for recycling and public environmental education. Since its establishment, the number of visitors to and the amount of recyclable materials collected at the network increased steadily over time. Our study is the very first to investigate the effectiveness of this territory-wide recycling network. Through a questionnaire survey, we found that respondents’ recycling traits were stronger if they have accrued gift tokens through participating in recycling activities. Visiting a Green@Community facility could also enhance knowledge of the types of acceptable recyclables, and respondents who had visited a Green@Community facility agreed that education and publicity could increase the recycling rate in Hong Kong. These findings highlighted the effectiveness and uniqueness of this community-based recycling network, its role in raising recycling knowledge, and its implications for policymakers and urban planners of densely populated cities to leverage society’s recycling participation, but also called for more efforts on developing, promoting, and incentivizing the usage of such a network to further enhance recycling and alleviate MSW production in Hong Kong.

Industrial water pollution and farmer adaptation: Evidence from rice farming in Jiangsu, China

AbstractThe shift of industrial water pollution from urban to rural areas during industrialization can impact agricultural production and stimulate farmers’ adaptive behavior. As an illustration, this study examines the impact of industrial water pollution from manufacturing firms on rice production in Jiangsu, China. By combining data from the China Rural Fixed Point Survey with the China Environmental Statistics Database, we employ an extended translog production function to distinguish between the effects of industrial water pollution and farmers’ adaptation behaviors. Our results demonstrate that industrial chemical oxygen demand (COD) has a direct biological effect on paddy rice growth, reducing rice yields by 3.76 to 4.17 percent. This detrimental effect is most pronounced within a radius of 5 kg from the village center. Additionally, farmers increase their operating inputs to mitigate the adverse effects of industrial water pollution. These findings underscore the need for stringent environmental regulations and enhanced environmental education in rural areas to promote the sustainable development of both manufacturing industry and agriculture in developing countries.

The Paths of Ecological Civilization Construction under the Concept of Sustainable Environmental Education

Ecological civilization is a new stage of human civilization development after industrial civilization, and it is an inevitable choice to cope with the global ecological crisis and achieve harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. With the deepening of China's ecological civilization construction, sustainable development education has gradually become an important means of cultivating public ecological awareness. This article first elaborates on the connotation of ecological civilization and its relationship with education, analyzes the current situation of ecological education in schools and society, and points out the existing problems. We must adhere to the integration of ecological civilization and sustainable development education, the integration of ecological civilization and educational governance, and develop education with the people as the center, building a path for the development of ecological civilization.

Beyond voice: Listening and silence in climate change education

ABSTRACT This mosaic essay reflects on the invitation to speak to a JME symposium on Education and Climate Change and the convenors’ request for participants to engage with the previous history of scholarship on education and environment in this journal. It begins by recognising that the world is still confronting deepening ecological and climate degradation, despite 50 years of calls for transformation and despite a long tradition of environmental and sustainability education. As environmental education becomes a form of ‘climate education’ that increasingly emphasises student voice and climate action in the face of seeming intransigence, this essay asks whether the capacity to listen deeply might also be a necessary feature of such education in a warming world. The mosaic form of the essay is both a reflection on the inadequacies and limitations of academic speech at this time, and an invitation to explore, with the reader, what it might mean to create spaces of listening and attunement to (human and non-human) others and to the self, in our work as academics and as educators.

Education to Promote Healthy and Sustainable Eating Habits: A Bibliometric Analysis

Food production accounts for a substantial part of human activities’ negative impact on planetary environmental stability. Although environmental education and education for sustainable development could both promote changes in this area, research often does not focus on their potential to build healthy and sustainable eating habits. Here, a bibliometric map of the scientific literature is outlined, revealing trends and opportunities for research on this topic. The SPAR-4-SLR protocol was used to collect a large sample (RQ1 sample: n = 2067) and, subsequently, a narrow sample (RQ2 sample: n = 256) of research works on this topic. The sampling process and data treatment were undertaken in RStudio. The bibliometric analysis shows that scientific research in this area is increasing exponentially in quantity (R2 = 0.926). However, the model also indicates that quality standards have been decreasing (β = −0.951 p < 0.001), with a high adjustment (R2 = 0.803). Cross-statistical corroboration points in the same direction (r = −0.541 p < 0.01). Authorship quality has low consistency among publications focused on eating-habit education from an environmental sustainability perspective. The emerging topics are meat consumption, behavior, attitudes, and the Mediterranean diet. This research unveils gaps to be explored in future research on education for sustainable development (and environmental education) to foster healthy and sustainable eating habits, and contributes to the discussion on the quality standards of scientific research.

Students’ Perceptions on Chemistry Education Programme: A Qualitative Inquiry in Faculty of Education

This article examines the efficacy of the Chemistry Education program offered by the Department of Science and Environment Education, Central Department of Education, Tribhuvan University. It also explores students' perceptions and experiences regarding the program, focusing on its strengths and challenges. Using purposive sampling, ten students enrolled in the Science Education program were selected for data collection through face-to-face interviews and conversations. Verbatim and conversational analyses were employed to analyze the data. The findings indicate that the culture of teaching and learning has shifted from traditional, teacher-centered approaches to student-centered pedagogies, with a strong emphasis on research-based and project-oriented learning. Students appreciated the comprehensive coverage of theoretical concepts in the Chemistry Education program. However, they expressed concerns about the limited opportunities for practical laboratory work, which they felt hindered their ability to fully grasp and apply the concepts learned in class. Additionally, the study found that while the program integrates theoretical constructs with real-world applications through experiential learning modalities, doubts persist regarding its effectiveness in cultivating skills essential for long-term professional success. It is strongly recommended to elevate the Chemistry Education program by integrating more dynamic and interactive pedagogical approaches to more effectively nurture the skills critical for sustained professional success.

Towards posthuman climate change education

ABSTRACT Climate change is one of the most critical challenges of our time, requiring significant responses from all aspects of society, including education. The prevailing responses to climate change tend towards treating the crisis as a predominantly scientific and managerial issue that requires technological solutions or behaviour changes. Correspondingly, climate change education (CCE) often focuses on teaching climate science and (predominantly individual) behaviour change. We argue that CCE, as part of a broader environmental and sustainability education (ESE), needs, in addition to a short-term damage limitation response, a simultaneous, longer-term, transformational approach that goes beyond critical humanism and engages with posthumanism. We explore ideas about human continuity with the more-than-human world, and the relationality and materiality of humans. Drawing on recent developments within posthuman pedagogies research, we consider how posthumanism might influence ESE/CCE, focussing on how two sustainability competency frameworks, UNESCO’s key competencies and the EU’s GreenComp, might be posthumanised.

OS PRODUTOS EDUCACIONAIS DA ÁREA DE ENSINO EM HUMANIDADES RELACIONADOS COM A EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL:

The work on screen brings the results of an analysis of educational products with a focus on Environmental Education, from the Graduate Program in Humanities Teaching at the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo. The aim of this study was to evaluate these materials, aiming to serve as a basis for future students who will be able to improve their educational products and, consequently, contribute to the program and to the teaching-learning process as education professionals. This study is characterized as a qualitative research of an exploratory nature that involved the execution of a research of documentary sources composed of 7 educational products that worked under the aspect of environmental education produced by the students of the master's degree, thus allowing to draw an overview of the program's perspectives . These materials were evaluated based on the criteria Complexity, Impact, Applicability, Access, Adherence and Innovation, as proposed in the model by Rizzatti et al (2020). Although it is an initial study, nevertheless, it is believed in its potential to contribute to the program, to the area of ​​teaching in the humanities and to future students who want to reach a higher level of efficiency in their educational materials. In general, the educational products analyzed reached satisfactory levels in all the evaluated criteria, but the research showed that there are fields for improvement, thus indicating that future master's students of the program should pay more attention to the needs raised when preparing their educational materials, in order to achieve a standard of excellence in the final result of its productions.

Observing Evolutions of Sustainability Research Through Bibliometric Visualization: A Comparative Study of Environmental Education Frontiers

Observing Evolutions of Sustainability Research Through Bibliometric Visualization: A Comparative Study of Environmental Education Frontiers