Environmental NGOs Research Articles

Exploring the Social Media Practices of Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGO): A Qualitative Approach

This study aims to enhance the understanding of how Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGOs) use social media to engage their audiences in the causes they advocate. By incorporating elements from the Uses and Gratification theory and other sources, the researchers conducted one-on-one interviews with 20 ENGOs. Data were analysed through textual analysis using NVIVO software. The results indicate that ENGOs leverage social media, particularly Facebook, to raise awareness about climate change and biodiversity, with positive impacts on fundraising and lobbying, depending on resource availability. However, limited budgets and corporate governance issues pose challenges to social media use. This study provides managerial recommendations for developing more engaging and effective communication strategies on social media, as well as further exploration of environmental communication trends.

Climate Change Advocacy and Engagement on Social Media

This study examines how 21 leading environmental organizations framed climate change on Facebook and how these frames were associated with public engagement through reactions (e.g., likes), shares, and comments on the posts. We find that environmental nongovernmental organizations’ (NGOs) posts about climate change tend to emphasize the environmental impacts of climate change, political actions that are being taken by individuals and groups to address climate change, and political threats to climate progress. The results tentatively suggest that Facebook posts with an affective component—either positive or threat-based—are most likely to be associated with greater levels of engagement.

The Role of Environmental NGOs (ENGOs) in Deforestation Issues in Endau-Rompin, 1970-2000

Tropical Rainforests in Peninsular Malaysia have a very important role in social, economic, and ecological development locally and transnationally. During the British colonial period, the forests in Peninsular Malaysia were heavily exploited until the idea of conservation came into existence to avoid the depletion of forest resources in the future. The colonial government subsequently established the Forestry Department by designating certain areas as forest reserves. However, after Independence, these forest areas continued to remain under threat to the extent that it has resulted in a decline in forest cover in addition to damage, fragmentation, and degradation of forests in favour of government policies that prioritized economic development. The rush for economic growth has created a conflict between forest stakeholders, particularly the state government and environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs). The objective of this paper is to present the role of ENGOs related to issues in deforestation and forest protection efforts within Endau-Rompin between 1970 where the EndauRompin controversy began until the establishment of Endau-Rompin State Park (Pahang) in 2000. This study used a qualitative approach, that is primary sources such as Parliamentary Hansard and newspapers, and secondary sources such as books and journal articles. In addition, field research was carried out through the observation of forest-related activities organized by several ENGOs. The findings of the study showed that one of the most critical roles of ENGOs in dealing with the issue of deforestation is to prevent activities that damage the forest, especially legal activities that involve decisions made by the state government. The involvement and role of ENGOs can only delay or prolong the process of losing forest cover. This happens because the state government has authority over the land (forest) matters according to the Federal Constitution which cannot be disputed from a legal point of view. The efforts to save the forest can only depend on the political will on whether the state government wants to address or ignore the concerns voiced by ENGOs in issues related to deforestation.

Building the Character of a Community Concerned with Ecology through the Environmental Reforestation Program in Madiun City

Environmental damage in urban areas is getting worse due to physical development, pollution from motorized vehicles, motorbikes and cars, and pollution and the lack of Green Open Space (RTH). Research gap in the context of this study, air pollution causes unhealthy urban environments, exhaust emissions from cars, motorbikes, dirty air, reduced oxygen (O2), causing hot air to minimal greenery. This study uses a qualitative research approach with descriptions in the form of narratives, stories, words to the subjects studied. Data collection methods through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation, data sources are obtained from primary data, namely the community, while secondary sources are environmental NGOs, students, community leaders. Data analysis is carried out through the Interactive Miles and Huberman model which includes the stages of data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions from data. To explore the data, researchers used the Social Construction Action theory study by L. Berger, T. Luckman, namely a theory that focuses on human social actions in social interaction. The results of the study indicate that a community construction process is needed in order to obtain social change in society, create environmental awareness, with large trees that produce O2.

Becoming Scientific-Environmental Citizens Through Citizen Science in China

This article advocates for a closer study of the forms of citizenship nurtured among individual participants in citizen science (CS) projects by highlighting some salient features of CS in China. Through a detailed examination of the experiences of students participating in the CS activities of a Chinese environmental NGO, it proposes that attention to CS as a means of democratizing science should be complemented by a similar attention to the ways in which CS fosters “scientific-environmental citizenship.” The article argues that these emergent forms of citizenship may be revealed by focusing on the experiences, perspectives, values and skills acquired by participants, and the specific polity in which CS initiatives are situated. This attention to the development of scientific-environmental citizenship as an outcome of CS is particularly valuable in contexts where democratic participation is otherwise constrained, but also yields a more nuanced understanding of citizenship enacted through CS in democratic contexts.

Contextual and socio-economic factors affected urban dwellers experiences of and vulnerability to ecosystem disservices

Peoples’ experiences of Ecosystem Disservices (EDS) are influenced by socio-economic and environmental characteristics, and this needs better understanding for informed planning and management of urban green infrastructure. The paper investigated the understudied area of how socio-economic and environmental factors influence people's experiences of EDS in urban green spaces, in four towns in South Africa. Employing a questionnaire survey, in 303 randomly selected households in three neighborhoods of different economic standing, alongside statistical analysis provided quantitative data on experiences and vulnerability to EDS. A list of reported EDS was compiled and the number of EDS/respondent was compared between towns, neighborhoods and places of experience, using Kruskal-Wallis test and nested ANOVAs. Respondents’ vulnerability to EDS was assessed by analyzing the magnitudes of experience and coping abilities. The influences of socio-economic and environmental characteristics on experiences of and vulnerability to EDS were assessed using PCAs. Twenty-three EDS were reported in total, with the highest numbers recorded in affluent areas and the lowest in the poorest areas. Irrespective of town and neighborhood, the reported EDS were mainly experienced in domestic gardens and surrounding streets. Consequently, only one EDS seems of high concern, while the others are of lower concern or well manageable by the respondents. Significant influences of socio-economic (education and income levels, source of income, upbringing, frequency of visits to green spaces (GS), length of residence in neighborhoods) and environmental (environmental worldview, garden ownership, membership to environmental NGO) characteristics were observed on the experiences and vulnerability to EDS. Therefore, such variations in and influences on peoples’ experiences and vulnerability to EDS should be considered for sustainable management of urban GS. Also, the creation of GS should be accompanied by actions to improve people relationships to nature as well as to ensure their maintenance and security, particularly public GS and commonages.

Environmental Literacy among Primary Level Students in Bangladesh: A Comparative Study between Urban and Rural Areas

Environmental literacy (EL) is considered a key skill for primary students who will be responsible for solving the environmental problems that affect Bangladesh and other countries. This study explored the EL of primary students in urban and rural areas of Bangladesh, using the five EL components: knowledge, skill, awareness, attitude, ability to evaluate, and participation, declared in 1977 Tbilisi conference on environment education. A qualitative approach was used, and data were collected through surveys, focus group discussions, and student interviews. Thematic and descriptive analysis was performed on the findings. The results indicated that urban students had higher EL scores than rural students in all components. The study also suggested the implications of the findings for curriculum developers, policymakers, environmental NGOs, local project planners, and future research. Teacher’s World: Journal of Education and Res arch, 50(1): 21-42

Decarbonization, hegemonic projects, and the green growth policy-planning network: the case of Québec

ABSTRACT Since 2010, grassroots-led socio-ecological movements in Québec, Canada played a key role in overturning carbon extractivist proposals. Building on their successes, these groups now aim to move energy transition debates toward a broader conception of transition that includes radical social justice and post-capitalist alternatives. Meanwhile, corporate actors and the state enlisted major environmental NGOs and union federations into various technocentric ‘green growth’ projects. These hegemonic and counter-hegemonic struggles define how transition unfolds in the province, yet few have studied how actual social actors organize to carry out these divergent responses to the climate crisis. We develop a structural analysis of the green growth policy-planning network in Québec. Starting from five organizations at the core of transition debates, we analyze the network of board interlocks they are embedded in. We describe the overall structure of the network and its main corporate, civil society, and individual actors. Analysis outlines the possibility of a new hegemonic bloc forming, positioned around the green growth project and the cleantech sector, close to achieving dominance in Quebec, that would threaten deeper decarbonization efforts. Thus, despite the recent ban on petroleum extraction, like elsewhere, energy transition in Quebec still faces deep social and ecological contradictions.

Understanding Environmental NGOs’ Inclusiveness: A Comparative Analysis of Two Australian Climate Action Groups

Understanding Environmental NGOs’ Inclusiveness: A Comparative Analysis of Two Australian Climate Action Groups

Fostering sustainable consumer behaviour: Unravelling the determinants of repair intentions for smart appliances

Consumer demand for repair services is vital for prolonging product lifespan, yet factors influencing the repair intention for smart appliances remain unclear. Addressing this gap, we propose an extended theory of planned behaviour, incorporating four additional constructs: environmental knowledge, cost of repair, financial benefit, and data security. We collected data from 383 participants in the United Kingdom, which we analysed using a partial least squares approach. Results reveal that the cost of repair, perceived behavioural control, attitude, and financial benefit directly impact repair intention, while subjective norms do not. Environmental knowledge indirectly influences repair intention through attitude mediation, and data security's impact is not moderated by attitude. This extended theory offers a theoretical foundation for future related studies, providing insights for repair providers, environmental NGOs, and policymakers. Our findings can inform interventions promoting repair behaviour and guide policies incentivising consumers, thus increasing the demand for repair services.

Stakeholder perceptions of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources Marine Protected Area planning process

Establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in international waters is critical for the conservation of marine biodiversity. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) is a global leader in high seas conservation, having established two international MPAs in Antarctica’s Southern Ocean, as part of a commitment to establish a representative system of MPAs for the CAMLR Convention Area. CCAMLR MPAs are adopted by consensus. However, consensus decision-making has slowed the MPA adoption process, and since 2016 the Commission has been unable to agree and implement further MPAs, which has stalled the development of the circumpolar representative system. The key aim of this study was to identify how features of the planning process contribute to outcomes, problems and solutions. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 scientists, policymakers, and expert observers from fisheries and environmental non-government organisations involved in CCAMLR MPA planning, to explore their perceptions (experiences, opinions, impressions) of the planning process. Our results identify four key features that are influential across multiple areas of the CCAMLR MPA planning and decision-making process: i) a lack of common understanding; ii) the influence of historical relationships and legacy in subsequent planning processes; iii) inconsistencies between expectations of and requirements for MPA planning; and iv) the degree to which CCAMLR principles and practices, norms, and values are shared. We demonstrate how these four features may help or hinder the effectiveness of the current planning process. We then make suggestions regarding how the planning process could be adapted to capitalise on these features.

Building a new environmentalism: News media access and framing in Canada's environmental movement.

This study provides a content and frame analysis of the news media advocacy of prominent environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) in Canada. We find that these organizations have an important voice in shaping how climate change is framed in news media, but that ecological modernization frames and narratives, which avoid issues of power, conflict, and social-transformative change, are dominant. Core elements of this discourse are contested, however, as some ENGOs oppose the fossil sector, critique the shortcomings of proffered (technological) climate solutions, and call for muscular interventions aimed at energy transition. We also find that environmental justice frames - particularly those focused on Indigenous rights - are gaining traction, revealing a promising pathway of influence for ENGOs focused on climate justice.

Community Legal Awareness in Waste Management in Cirebon City

Waste management is still an important challenge in urban areas, including Cirebon City, Indonesia, because of its significant environmental and social impacts. This study explores community legal awareness regarding waste management practices in Cirebon, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach and community participation. Through qualitative research involving interviews and participant observation with 50 stakeholders, including community leaders, environmental NGOs, sanitation workers, and residents, this research identifies the main factors influencing legal awareness and proposes strategies to increase community involvement. Findings show a gap between knowledge and action, highlighting infrastructure deficiencies and low community participation. These recommendations emphasize the need for improved policy frameworks, improved infrastructure, targeted education, and collaborative governance to encourage sustainable waste management and environmental health in Cirebon.

Organisational Learning, Environmental NGOs, and Policy Advocacy in China

ABSTRACT While previous studies have mainly emphasised the role of structural factors in explaining how and why Chinese environmental NGOs (ENGOs) have become more engaged in policy advocacy since the early 2000s, this study offers an alternative perspective on these dynamics by adopting an organisational learning framework. Through in-depth case studies, we identify the production and application of knowledge – specifically regarding the significance, viability, and practical expertise of policy advocacy – as a pivotal driver that compels organisations to proactively engage in policy advocacy. Moreover, we delineate two primary approaches to organisational learning used by ENGOs – intra-organisational learning and trans-organisational learning – and illustrate their internal mechanisms. This study also underscores the significance of individual learning by organisational leaders in the Chinese context, which occurs in parallel with collective learning at the group level. This article thereby enriches our understanding of the trajectory of environmental activism in contemporary China.

Strategic transparency under authoritarian environmentalism: information disclosure and the role of environmental NGOs in China’s national emission trading scheme

ABSTRACT Transparency in carbon markets is considered critical to ensure market effectiveness and public accountability. Low levels of transparency and lack of participation of non-governmental actors are persistent criticisms of Chinese (pilot) emission trading systems. Building on debates around authoritarian environmentalism and China's role therein, this article analyses transparency, manifested as information disclosure, in China's national carbon emission trading scheme (C-ETS) – the largest carbon emission market worldwide. Using expert interviews and content analysis, the article outlines practices of C-ETS information disclosure and discusses its characteristics in the context of China’s environmental governance. Key findings include discrepancies both between central and provincial governments related to information disclosure, and between different provincial governments. And while most industry actors lack interest and capacity to engage in C-ETS disclosure, environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs), by contrast, are significantly more involved in the policy process and information disclosure, often as ‘eco-elites’. Overall, this reveals that international and domestic ENGOs retain high-level channels to influence policy design and implementation. Yet, ENGO input is not pursued as a public good valuable for its own sake, but sought strategically as a means to the larger goal of efficient market functioning. This type of ‘strategic transparency,’ as we call it, suggests that China’s environmental governance model – regularly considered to be a key example of authoritarian environmentalism – instead represents an evolving mixture of liberal and illiberal tactics.

Socio-technical dynamics of carbon dioxide capture and storage: A systems view on enablers and barriers at North Sea Port

Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is considered an option for energy-intensive industry to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Although it is well known that CCS faces technological, economic and societal challenges, how these challenges interact in a real-life industry has not yet been investigated collectively in a place-specific context. This study fills that gap by looking at the dynamic interactions between technological, economic and societal aspects, with the aim of clarifying enablers for and barriers to the implementation of industrial CCS in the North Sea Port industrial cluster, and identifying a course of action. The analysis was based on literature, interviews and group model building. By using group model building, expert stakeholders were brought together from industry, government and environmental non-governmental organizations. The participants built a qualitative model of the system dynamics of the implementation of industrial CCS in the North Sea Port industrial cluster jointly and on the spot. Enablers and barriers, such as costs, government's decisiveness and public support, are strongly interrelated. Public support plays a key role in multiple feedback loops in the system of industrial CCS implementation. The interdependence of societal and techno-economical elements needs to be acknowledged and responded to. There is need for transparent public engagement to build public support for CCS, and decisiveness and commitment from industry and government to transform that public support into successful and responsible CCS implementation.

Conceptualizing Barriers to Individual Recycling: A Qualitative Study with Multiple Stakeholders in Türkiye

ABSTRACT Increasing individual recycling rates is critical to achieving expected recycling targets. According to the social marketing approach promoting individual recycling behavior requires exploring, measuring, and managing the barriers that may deter individuals from recycling in a specific region. Although previous studies list some barriers, these barriers are likely to vary across studies, and clear conceptualizations are mostly missing. This study aims to explore and conceptualize the barriers to set a basis for future operationalization and systematic measurement. For this purpose, in-depth interviews were conducted with municipality authorities, representatives of leading environmental NGOs, and consumers in Türkiye. A total of 54 different first-level barriers were identified, and then first-level barriers were grouped thematically, revealing 20 second-level barriers, which are considered as personal, structural, social, or mediating barriers. Conceptual definitions for 20 second-level barriers are provided. The study also includes basic statistics regarding prominent barriers for different target groups.

Public Participation Centered on Environmental NGOs for Water Resource Conservation in China

Public Participation Centered on Environmental NGOs for Water Resource Conservation in China

Fire as an aesthetic resource in climate change communication: exploring the visual discourse of the California wildfires on Twitter/X

This article uses the case study of the California wildfires of 2020/2021 to examine the visual discourse on fires on social media and investigate how it was harnessed by environmental activists to shape narratives and meanings regarding climate change. The article draws on two datasets scraped from Twitter/X (350 images), i.e. the visual discourse of the California wildfires (250 images) and the visual data of environmental NGOs (100 images). Our findings show that the general visual discourse evokes the impact, risk, and devastation of wildfires. In contrast, in the second visual discourse, civil society deploys fire as an aesthetic resource to communicate danger but also makes an explicit connection between wildfires, climate change and fossil fuel reliance. Hence, our article highlights an urgent challenge in climate crisis communication: how to make an explicit causal link between wildfires and climate change through the use of visual images of fire. This challenge is exacerbated by dramatic and powerful images of fire which dominate social media, yet simultaneously undermine fire’s capacity to communicate blame and links to climate change. This tension is explored throughout the article with fire analysed as a unique site of contestation in the visual communication of climate change.

Imperialist Multispecies Aspirations

Humanities and social science scholars have recently turned their attention to the embeddedness of microbes in human life as a potential way to decentre the human and thereby decolonise assumptions about the human conquest of the natural world. In this article, I argue that, before such claims can be made, careful historical, regional, and ethnographic analyses of human-microbe relations are needed. My case study of a Japanese sustainable development, agricultural, and environmental NGO shows that human attunement to microbes is not necessarily decolonial in the context of Japan’s modern history. In fact, discourses of human openness to microbial life find affinity with Japanese nationalism and imperialism. Through my analysis, I contribute to scholarship that reveals how environmental visions link up with conservative and right-wing politics.