Environmental Action Research Articles

The effects of disease lesions and amoxicillin treatment on the physiology of SCTLD-affected corals

Metrics of coral physiology can be used to identify changes in coral health due to environmental stressors or management actions. One of the most unprecedented stressors to Caribbean corals is the spread of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), which also resulted in the novel management action of in-water amoxicillin treatments on active disease lesions. Though highly effective at halting lesions and preventing coral mortality, possible unintended consequences of topical application of amoxicillin to coral tissue were unknown. We used in-water instrumentation to measure and compare photosynthesis (P), respiration (R), P/R ratios, and calcification of corals that were visually healthy, actively diseased, and diseased but treated with amoxicillin paste. Measurements occurred across three time points and two species – Orbicella faveolata and Montastraea cavernosa. Across all metrics, treatment type did not cause significant differences, indicating that neither SCTLD lesions nor amoxicillin treatments impacted the physiology of adjacent tissues. There were significant variations among time points, which may have resulted from changes to coral health across the reef, variations due to environmental variables, or other unknown factors. We suggest that physiological metrics could be an interesting way to fate track coral health across short- and long-term timeframes. We also conclude that amoxicillin treatments as a tool to halt SCTLD are not detrimental to respiration, photosynthesis, or calcification rates of adult corals.

The green libraries partnership and green libraries campaign

The Green Libraries Partnership, rebranded as the Green Libraries Campaign in 2023, was established in February 2022 in response to the UN Climate Change Conference and the climate emergency declarations by local authorities in England. The initiative, led by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) and supported by key organisations, aims to foster a sustainable future for libraries and their communities. Central to its mission are four key aims: enhancing sustainability efforts within libraries, facilitating community engagement, aligning with local environmental initiatives, and positioning libraries as vital contributors to climate action. Over its first eighteen months, the Partnership conducted research, launched a Green Libraries Manifesto, established a grant fund, and hosted the inaugural Green Libraries Conference, reflecting its commitment to environmental action. The Green Libraries Campaign seeks to expand the programme’s reach across the UK library sector, encouraging collaboration and innovation to address climate change effectively. This article outlines the objectives of the Partnership and Campaign, evaluates achievements thus far, and discusses future aspirations, emphasising the importance of libraries in promoting climate awareness and action. As the initiative evolves, it aspires to ensure financial sustainability while fostering an inclusive network of libraries dedicated to environmental stewardship. The programme is also committed to learning from global library initiatives to support diverse communities in their sustainability efforts and the measures being taken across the international library sector to work towards achieving new zero across library buildings and services.

Effect of Green Value Cocreation on Consumer Behavior: A Professional Baseball Franchise’s “Sustainable Party” Event

This study examined whether participation in green activities affects the green purchase intention, team identification, and subjective well-being of sports fans through green value cocreation. In addition, this study explored the mediating role of team identification and the moderating role of subjective well-being in green value cocreation. Composite reliability and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to evaluate the validity and reliability of the research instruments, and structural equation modeling was used to test the study hypotheses. The results indicated that green value cocreation significantly predicted green purchase intention, team identification, and subjective well-being. Team identification partially mediated the relationship between green value cocreation and green purchase intention. However, subjective well-being did not moderate the effect of green value cocreation on green purchase intention. This study investigated how green value cocreation enhances fan participation in environmental actions and translates into green purchase intention. The findings provide insights into the emotional connection between fans and teams and the effect of this connection on green value cocreation and green purchase intention. This study addresses a research gap regarding the role of green value cocreation in professional sports and provides practical insights for businesses, teams, and society to promote environmentally conscious consumption and behavior.

‘It's good what we're doing and it's scary what we're facing’: young people’s care-ful environmental action in the UK

ABSTRACT In this paper, we argue for greater recognition of young people’s contributions to environmental action through social and environmental justice. It draws on findings from research based on eleven organisations in the UK exploring young people’s connection with environment-related collective action and activism in the UK landscape. Building on theoretical arguments of ethics of care and implicit activism and capturing a range of practices of young people, the paper explores young people’s multiple framing(s) of activisms – towards the environment and each other. Drawing on the experiences of young people and facilitators within these organisations, we unpack the experiences and representation of minoritised groups in the climate movement and other forms of environmental engagement. The findings demonstrate thoughtful and effective approaches towards inclusion within the UK context and in terms of global climate justice but also highlight a need for more intersectional approaches and awareness of enduring barriers often relating to racialised identities.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT BASED ON SOIL LOSS, DEFORESTATION IN PERMANENT PRESERVATION AREAS, AND WATER QUALITY APPLIED IN THE ITACAIÚNAS WATERSHED, EASTERN AMAZON.

To understand how various environmental pressures may threaten the Amazon territory, specifically its hydrographic basins, it is crucial to guide key management actions such as soil conservation, environmental preservation, and forest restoration. This paper, based on a detailed study conducted in the Itacaiúnas River Watershed (IRW) located in the Carajás mining province—one of the most significant metallogenetic provinces globally and within the Arc of Deforestation in the Amazon—proposes a new index to assess environmental threats or vulnerabilities. The index evaluates soil loss, deforestation in permanent preservation areas, and water quality—key environmental issues in watershed management. Using geoprocessing and remote sensing techniques, we applied the index across the entire catchment area and at the beginning of the drainage network (a proxy for river springs). Our findings reveal that: i) 68% of unit catchments (32% of headwaters) exhibit “High” or “Very High” soil loss vulnerability; ii) 69% of unit catchments (32% of headwaters) have more than 20% of their permanent preservation areas deforested, representing the primary threat among the three criteria to the basin; iii) Only 4.7% of unit catchments (2% of headwaters) present any chemical risk related to water consumption. The combined criteria (simple arithmetic mean of normalized values) indicate that the east-central and southern parts of the watershed have higher index values, necessitating greater attention to soil conservation. In contrast, the center-western area of the basin, characterized by conservation units and indigenous land, showed low index values but remains at risk primarily due to soil loss if environmental preservation actions are not maintained.

Quantifying residents' exposure to agricultural pesticides using new geospatial approaches

A better understanding of environmental exposure to agricultural pesticides is crucial for public health, regulatory and management purposes. Residents in close vicinity to agricultural fields are likely to be more exposed to pesticides. In that context, an innovative geospatial approach for mapping estimates of agricultural pesticide exposure was developed in this study.Data on pesticide application rates, high-resolution annual datasets of the geographic distribution of crops, and the 100x100m grid population dataset were utilized to complete this analysis in Wallonia (Belgium) over the period 2015-2019. Pesticide exposure metrics were estimated using a buffer-based exposure model by conducting neighborhood analysis within a 1000m buffer radius. Subsequently, a population weighted method was used to ‘up-scale’ the exposure data to administrative levels. In a limited validation effort, model estimates were compared with pesticide measurements in air collected at 12 stations during the period 2015-2016.The results present the first modeling map of environmental exposure to agricultural pesticides for the whole of the Walloon region. The northern part of the Sambre-Meuse axis demonstrates more intensive agriculture and the highest pesticide weighted exposure indices. The majority of the population resides near agricultural areas, with only 4% living in regions that lack crops within a 1000m radius, primarily in the central areas of large cities. A positive trend association between pesticide measures in air and the index was observed at the different stations, nevertheless further validation efforts are needed to accurately compare the same active ingredients.This work gives a valuable basis for research and environmental health actions in Belgium. Maps highlight areas where human biomonitoring and epidemiological studies should be implemented to investigate the impact of potential environmental exposure to pesticides. This information helps policy-makers to take measures to control and reduce the load of agricultural pesticides in the environment.

Distinct photooxidation and interface degradation of waterborne epoxy resin coatings on mortar substrate affected by bulk water

Epoxy-based coatings are widely used in engineering but are prone to degrade under aggressive environmental actions, especially in hygrothermal environments. However, the degradation mechanisms of a coating-substrate system under coupled UV irradiation and bulk water remain insufficiently explored. Herein, we designed three parallel accelerated aging tests, including UV irradiation only, UV/flush, and UV/submerged, on a waterborne epoxy resin (WER) coating on cement mortar substrate. The chemical structure, micro-morphology, and hydrophilicity over aging time were comprehensively characterized by the tests of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transformation infrared spectrometer (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), image analysis, water contact angle (WCA). Results show that the UV/flush environments induced more micro-pinholes on the WER outer surface than the neat UV photooxidation; The UV/ submerged environment led to a blistering rate over 24% after 60 d's exposure owing to the significant osmotic pressure built between the inner and outer surfaces of the WER coating. Additionally, the physicochemical and microstructure changes to the outer surface of WER also caused the changes of WCA. The osmotic, hydrolysis, and thermal stresses were evaluated to clarify the water-accelerated photooxidation and interface degradation mechanisms. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of epoxy coating degradation mechanisms in response to environmental stressors and offer insights for enhancing coating performance under varying conditions.

Leveraging public awareness and behavioural change for entrepreneurial waste management

This article takes us into the world of municipal solid waste entrepreneurs, revealing how public awareness campaigns and behavioural change efforts intertwine with entrepreneurial endeavours. Through conversations with 11 key participants—entrepreneurs from four geopolitical zones of Nigeria and a senior management figure from the Lagos State Waste Management Authority—I hear firsthand accounts of the challenges they face and their strategies to transform waste into opportunity. Guided by the theory of planned behaviour, this study sheds light on how these entrepreneurs perceive the role of public awareness in shaping waste management behaviour and driving business innovation. From their stories, a common theme emerges: the need to educate the public about responsible waste practices while developing creative business models that engage communities. Concepts like “freemium-to-premium” offerings are explored as ways to break through psychological barriers and inspire wider participation in waste management initiatives. These voices illustrate how awareness campaigns are not only about fostering environmental responsibility, but also about creating pathways for entrepreneurial growth, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and circular economy. This study contends that public awareness extends beyond mere knowledge; it acts as a form of infrastructure in its own right. Rather than being just an end goal, awareness becomes a vital foundation in the pursuit of improved waste management practices, serving as a key driver for meaningful environmental action.

Environmental Literacy and Pro-Environmental Behavior of Pre-Service Science Educators: The Mediating Effect of Their Climate Change Awareness

The study investigated at how climate change awareness mediates the relationship between environmental literacy and pro-environmental behavior among pre-service science educators in the Davao region, involving a total of 305 respondents. A descriptive-correlational approach was used in a non-experimental quantitative research design. The findings revealed that pre-service science educators exhibit high levels of pro-environmental behavior, environmental literacy, and climate change awareness. This finding highlights the important role of future science educators in disseminating knowledge about climate change, as persons with higher levels of environmental literacy are more likely to engage in pro-environmental actions. Climate change awareness functioned as a partial mediator, indicating that although environmental literacy is essential, climate knowledge enhances educators' involvement in sustainable practices. The findings underscore the essential function of prospective science educators in climate advocacy, indicating that educational programs may improve environmental literacy curricula and incorporate discussions on climate change, thus preparing future teachers to motivate responsible environmental actions in their communities.

On-Farm Production of Renewable Energy in 2014–2022

The main purpose of this study is to present family farms as consumers and producers of renewable energies which provide them with an opportunity to reduce operating costs. The time scope of the study is 2014–2022, and the Farm Accountancy Data Network is used as the data source. The following research methods were employed: comparative and descriptive analysis, intensity indicators, ranking assignment and panel regression. Based on the values of energy output and energy costs, the rankings revealed a strong position of the Netherlands and Germany. As demonstrated by the study, energy production and consumption volumes depend on the farms’ economic size, but are not impacted by production type. Another finding is that energy production covers only one-third of its costs. Also, both production volumes and costs were on a growth path on a year-over-year basis, with similar growth ratios. The European Union’s leaders in energy consumption and production are the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Slovakia and Sweden. The study included the structuring of panel models for energy output and costs and identified their determinants. Energy output depends on total inputs and grows as they grow. Energy costs, in turn, are related to utilized agricultural area, total output and family farm income. An important limitation of this study is that FADN is a provider of high-level data. Hence, it is impossible to tell what specific sources of renewable energy are used by farms, and how they are affected by such exogenous factors as climate, earmarked subsidies or energy policy. The findings from this study are discussed in the context of the European Commission’s recommendations laid down in the Bioeconomy Strategy of the EU (2013), the Seventh Environment Action Program, the New Innovation Agenda of the European Union, the Report “Transforming Our World: the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” and the Circular Economy Action Plan.

Social identity in environmental protection engagement: How are different kinds of identity related to different types of engagement?

AbstractSocial approaches can contribute to clarifying environmental issues. For instance, social identity theory can help to comprehend people's motivations for getting involved in environmental protection. However, the kind of social identity best suited for predicting environmental protection engagement remains unclear. This study examines different categories of social identity in relation to different types of environmental protection engagement. The predictive power of identification with environmentalists, as well as with politicized and non‐politicized environmental groups, are considered separately. Furthermore, environmental protection engagement is divided into pro‐environmental behavior and two different demanding forms of pro‐environmental collective action—participatory environmental action and leadership environmental action. Data collected online from 985 respondents involved in environmental protection were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results showed that while environmental group identification was not significantly related to any kind of environmental protection engagement, environmentalist identification emerged as a predictor of participatory environmental action, leadership environmental action and pro‐environmental behavior. Moreover, these connections were stronger for participants belonging to a politicized environmental group than for those belonging to a non‐politicized environmental group and those not belonging to any environmental group. These results support and extend previous findings on the role of social identity in pro‐environmental collective action and pro‐environmental behavior.

Influence of mindfulness on environmental satisfaction among young adults: mediating role of environmental identity

This study aims to analyze the relationship between mindfulness, environmental satisfaction, and environmental identity of adults. A sample of 367 adults was recruited using convenient sampling, and data were collected through online surveys. A quantitative analysis was carried out with SMART PLS-SEM to explore the structural relationships between these variables. The results demonstrated that mindfulness is significantly correlated with both environmental satisfaction and environmental identity, with environmental identity serving as a significant mediator between mindfulness and environmental satisfaction. These findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of mindfulness tend to have greater environmental satisfaction and a more robust environmental identity. The study highlights the importance of mindfulness in promoting environmental responsibility and suggests that mindfulness can enhance adults' affinity with nature and pro-environmental behaviors. This research contributes to the current understanding of the psychological determinants of environmental attitudes and behaviors, offering valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to foster environmental actions.

Land use and land cover mapping of the Saco River’s watershed, State of Maranhão, Brazil

Land use and land cover mapping benefits landscape understanding and its changes, especially those resulting from anthropogenic actions in the physical environment. The present study aimed at mapping land use and coverage of the Saco River’s watershed (located in Codó, state of Maranhão). The area comprises the coconut forest (named Mata dos Cocais), a region that encompasses the characteristics of different biomes on the same temporal and spatial scale. The methodology applied was based on remote sensing techniques developed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment, processing data from Landsat 8 and supervised classification. The results showed a predominance of dense vegetation in the basin under study, in addition to a reduced occupation by classes of urban area and water bodies. The overall accuracy was 79% and dense vegetation presented a higher user and producer accuracy than the general, with 91 and 87%, respectively. On the other hand, the highest commission and omission errors were those in urban areas and water bodies, which coincided with the lowest occupation classes in the Saco River basin. These results are pioneering for the coconut forest and provide data for strategic planning of environmental actions.

Eco-anxiety: an additional burden for university students?

Abstract Background Eco-anxiety encompasses climate change anxiety, including global warming, as well as anxiety about a multiplicity of environmental disasters, which not be directly caused by climate change The objective is to assess eco-anxiety in healthcare and non healthcare students and investigate a relationship with health behaviour, mental health, and environmental opinion. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among voluntary university students in the Rouen University in Normandy, France. Volunteer healthcare students aged 18 years and older were included. Eco-anxiety was assessed with the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS-13). Socio-demographics, health behavior, mental health and healthcare data were also collected. Results A total of 1,887 students were included with 74.3% of women and a mean age of 21.1 years (SD = 6.8). The HEAS-13 mean was 13.2 (SD = 2.6): affective symptoms 4.1 (SD = 2.7), eco-rumination 3.7 (SD = 2.4), behaviour 1.0 (SD = 1.5), and anxiety about one’s personal impact on the planet 4.4 (SD = 2.5). Respectively, 59.6% and 31.4% of students are moderately and very much involved in pro environmental-behaviour. 84.6% of students will consider environmental issues in their career choices. Eco-anxiety was associated with being a woman, being in curricula other than health, accommodation with roommates or in couple, use of cannabis, eating disorders, insomnia, emotional exhaustion, cynicism, depression, quality of life, and visiting a general practitioner for stress. Conclusions An high eco-anxiety was associated with impaired mental health and could be an additional burden for university students. Intervention options for those that do experience eco-anxiety and suffering can be as prescribing environmental action, mental health skills, and climate change resolution without imposing the burden of change solely on young people Key messages • A high eco-anxiety is prevalent among university. • The eco-anxiety impaired mental health that could be an additional burden for university students.

The Preparedness Paradox in Climate Attitudes: Democrats Worry, Republicans Prepare

ABSTRACT Political partisanship is one of the strongest correlates of climate change attitudes in the United States, with Democrats expressing greater concern than Republicans. As the climate crisis progresses, surveys increasingly examine preparedness for environmental emergencies, instead of climate attitudes alone. Does partisan identification associate with environmental preparedness actions as it does other climate attitude measures? We find a paradox: Republicans are more likely to say they have taken preparedness actions than Democrats. We replicate this finding in three survey samples (n = 1,053; n = 1,201; n = 2,318) and provide two sociological explanations. Theoretically, a culture of emergency preparedness integrated with conservative belief systems could strengthen the partisanship association, especially if preparedness is not closely tied to other climate attitudes. Empirically, household income is associated with specific types of preparedness actions, possibly introducing bias based on social class. We discuss the importance of measuring climate preparedness for the future of climate opinion research and climate policy and call for preparedness measures that are applicable to the general population.

Carbon Neutral Strategies in the Case of Google Inc: A Case Study of Carbon Offset Mechanisms and Renewable Energy Projects

Abstract: Facing the serious challenge of global climate change, Google Inc. has adopted a series of innovative strategies to reduce its carbon footprint and promote corporate sustainability. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of how Google reduces carbon emissions and promotes sustainable development through a series of innovative measures, including large-scale investment in renewable energy, improving data center efficiency, implementing carbon offset projects, and promoting technological innovation in the field of transportation. These actions demonstrate Google's commitment to environmental protection and provide a model for other companies to follow. The study evaluated the economic feasibility and environmental benefits of Google's strategies through a cost-benefit analysis. The results show that despite technical challenges and market uncertainty, Google's environmental investments can bring significant economic benefits in the long term while having a positive impact on the environment. These strategies help Google achieve its carbon neutrality goals and provide momentum for the global transition to a low-carbon economy. In addition, the study emphasizes the importance of socio-cultural factors in promoting environmental strategies. Google has raised public awareness of climate change and enhanced social support for environmental actions through community involvement and educational programs. These findings reveal the need for companies to adopt environmental protection measures in the context of globalization and provide practical guidance for other organizations to implement sustainable development strategies.

The environmental friendliness of Holland's personality types

This study explores the environmental friendliness of Holland's RIASEC personality types (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional). It investigates how each type correlates with pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. Findings suggest that Investigative and Artistic types exhibit strong environmental concern due to their analytical and creative natures, respectively. Social types engage in environmentally friendly activities through community involvement, while Enterprising and Conventional types participate when environmental actions align with personal or economic goals. The study highlights the need for tailored environmental education based on personality profiles to enhance pro-environmental behaviors.

Research on interdisciplinary project-based geography fieldwork in education for sustainable development

<p>The ability to solve real-world problems for a sustainable future has become a worldwide consensus, and interdisciplinary competencies and project-based learning (PBL) have become the focus of curriculum reform in China. This study investigates the effectiveness of interdisciplinary PBL fieldwork in geography education for sustainable development, focusing on the perceptions of students from a junior high school in Chongming, Shanghai, of the interdisciplinary effectiveness of PBL fieldwork. Over a one-month pilot program, the results suggest that the new fieldwork approach did not achieve the expected benefits. The significant gains of students can be grouped into four perspectives, namely, understanding of nature and classroom knowledge; problem-solving skills and environmental action; scientific spirit, environmental awareness, and interest in geography; and understanding of local needs and sustainable development issues, which increased their interest in learning. The students generally accepted the ability to collect information and data and the thinking ability of circular development. The influencing factors of activity effectiveness include the time and difficulty of the activity, cognitive and knowledge levels, learning habits of students, student participation, and teaching experience of teachers. The study offers valuable insights for improving fieldwork in other regions and for future research.<strong></strong></p>

Environmental Health Attitudes, Practices, and Educational Preferences: A National Survey of Reproductive-Aged Women in Canada

Prenatal exposures to environmental toxicants can adversely affect fetal and child development and lead to increased risk of chronic disease. While regulatory action is essential to reduce sources of environmental toxicants, prenatal care presents an opportunity to educate, mobilize, and support prospective parents to reduce exposures to such hazards. As the first phase of an interdisciplinary research collaboration to inform the development of prenatal environmental health education strategy in Canada, we surveyed reproductive-aged female individuals. The online survey (July–September 2021) yielded a nationally representative sample of 1914 reproductive-aged females living in Canada. The questionnaire topics addressed the respondents’ knowledge and perceptions of environmental health risks, preventive actions and related facilitators and barriers, information sources and preferences, reproductive history, and demographics. The analysis included bivariate and multivariate techniques. Our results suggest broad awareness among reproductive-aged females that exposure to toxicants can be harmful, and that reducing prenatal exposures can benefit child health. However, fewer than half of respondents felt that they had enough knowledge to take protective measures. Despite high levels of preference for prenatal care as an ideal context for learning about environmental health risks and protective measures, fewer than one in four respondents had ever discussed environmental health concerns with a healthcare provider. Our findings reveal a knowledge–action gap and a corresponding opportunity to improve environmental health education and advocacy in prenatal care in the Canadian context.

Exploring Organisational Agility's Impact on Nurses' Green Work Behaviour: The Mediating Role of Climate Activism.

To examine the relationship between organisational agility and nurses' green work behaviour and to assess how climate activism mediates this relationship. Understanding this relationship is crucial for promoting sustainable practices in healthcare. A cross-sectional research design was employed. This approach was chosen to examine how organisational agility and climate activism simultaneously influence green work behaviour in the present context, providing a snapshot of their synergistic interactions. This study was conducted in 2024 at eight hospitals in Egypt, with a total of 781 nurses conveniently selected for participation. Data were collected using validated instruments: the Agility Survey, Employee Green Behaviour Scale and Environmental Action Scale. Correlation and path analyses were utilised to test the study hypotheses. Nurses reported moderate levels of organisational agility, climate activism and green work behaviour. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between organisational agility, climate activism and green work behaviour. Organisational agility and climate activism emerged as significant predictors of green work behaviour, with climate activism acting as a partial mediator between organisational agility and green work behaviour. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on fostering sustainable nursing practices as results indicate that agile organisations, which embrace flexibility and nurse-led climate initiatives, are better positioned to promote sustainable behaviour. Practical strategies include selecting nurses with high climate literacy, designing agile working strategies and promoting eco-conscious behaviours. Nurse leaders should develop policies that integrate climate initiatives into everyday practice to enhance green work behaviour. The healthcare sector faces increasing environmental challenges, making it crucial to foster green work behaviour. Our study addresses a gap in the literature by revealing that organisational agility and climate activism are essential drivers of green behaviour among nurses, offering actionable insights for greening healthcare practices. This study was reported in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE). No patient or public contribution.