High Level Of Environmental Awareness Research Articles

Japan’s experience in organizing and promoting separate accumulation of municipal solid waste (MSW)

The article considers the Japanese system of municipal solid waste management as well as work with the population in the field of environmental education. The roles and responsibilities of the parties in the management of municipal solid waste are analyzed. In Japan, unlike other countries, the state is deeply involved in the process. Sorting and disposal of waste occur at the municipal level due to the historical characteristics of the Japanese society. Extended producer responsibility requires their participation from product development to disposal, and consumers are required to cooperate with them and local authorities by properly disposing solid waste.The regulatory framework in the field of MSW management is built around the Basic Act on Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society and the Law for Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources, which formulates the 3R strategy, aimed at Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling of waste. An analysis of recently adopted documents, the Plastic Resource Circulation Act of 2021 in particular, demonstrates that special emphasis is placed on 2R: waste reduction and reuse, which is successfully achieved thanks to the high level of environmental awareness of Japanese citizens and thoughtful and multifaceted educational work with the population.Over the past decade, Japan has seen a steady reduction of municipal solid waste. However, while remaining one of the world leaders in the field, it is currently faced with a number of difficulties, such as a low recycling rate and a significant volume of incinerated waste. It is concluded that significant progress in this area is impossible without clearer goal setting for the volume of solid waste processing that would meet modern world standards.

Environmental Awareness and Walking Behavior to the Grocery Store

The relationship between environmental awareness and actionable change is complex. While extensive literature examines the links between green ideology and eco-friendly behavior, few studies focus on how green ideology influences transportation choices and the built environment. This study investigates the relationship between environmental awareness and walking behavior, addressing three research questions aimed at: identifying socio-demographic characteristics linked to a high level of environmental awareness; exploring how environmental awareness affects perceptions of walkability; and determining whether individuals committed to community environmentalism are more likely to walk to the grocery store. The findings reveal that higher income is associated with considerations of local air quality, noise, and the importance of positive environmental transportation choices. Car ownership negatively impacts the willingness to adjust routes or travel time to minimize environmental impact. Environmentally aware individuals perceive the grocery store as closer, feel safer walking, view sidewalks as more available and in a better condition, and notice more tree shading. Those who consider air quality and noise levels in their walking decisions are more likely to notice tree shading. Individuals committed to community environmentalism are significantly more likely to walk to the grocery store, underscoring the crucial role of environmental values in shaping transportation behaviors and walkability perceptions.

Does Social Media Marketing Incorporating Accreditation Information Enhance Online Users’ Positive Behavioral Intentions Toward Nonprofit Organizations?

ABSTRACT Despite the increased adoption of social media marketing and accreditation practices by NPOs, little attention has been paid to their active promotion of accreditation information on social media and its potential impact on people’s attitude or behavioral change. This study examines whether the integration of accreditation information in nonprofit organizations’ social media marketing affects online users’ attitudes and behavioral intentions toward the promoted nonprofits This study conducts an online experiment using fictitious social media pages that include identifiable information on the NPOs’ environmental causes combined with an accreditation logo on public charities’ accountability as a device to test the signaling effect. This study created a factorial design of (2 × 2) by the combination of the existence of an accreditation logo (presence/absence) and the environmental awareness level (high/low). A total of 146 completed responses from graduate and undergraduate students of a public university were used for the analysis. Results show that respondents, having a high level of environmental awareness, demonstrated more positive attitudes toward the advertised nonprofits with certificate logo. This study suggests that the implementation of social media marketing with accreditation logo should be approached with caution, as it could potentially backfire with individuals with low environmental awareness.

Navigating dual official pressures: State-owned shares and the green innovation trajectory of private enterprises

Previous research regarding the role of state-owned shares in fostering private enterprises' green innovation has yielded ambiguous findings, sparking intense debate. This study examines this impact and considers the 2013 reform of local officials' promotion assessment mechanism to explore how officials' promotion pressure affects green innovation in private enterprises with expanding administrative boundaries. Examining a research sample of Chinese A-share listed private enterprises covering 2009–2022, the findings uncover an inverted U-shaped relationship between state-owned shares and private enterprises' green innovation. Officials' economic pressure weakens this relationship, while environmental pressure significantly enhances it. Further analyses reveal that the influence of state-owned shares is notably stronger for private enterprises with an entrepreneurial orientation and high level of environmental awareness. Our study makes valuable theoretical and practical contributions in understanding the relationship between officials' dual pressures and private enterprises' green innovation by assessing the influences of the mixed economy on private sector behavior and offering insights for advancing global private enterprises’ sustainability.

Analysis of the world market of waste management

This paper provides an overview of the solid waste management market, which is the object of the study, including the processes of collection, transportation, utilization and recycling, supervision and monitoring of these processes. The volume and dynamics of the global waste management market in 2023 and its forecasting until 2033 are considered. The problem solved in the article is to identify the key factors of influence and interconnection on the development of waste management market components to determine the directions of an effective sustainable development policy. The author analyzes the methods of waste management in different European countries and identifies the key factors influencing the market dynamics: the effects of urbanization, environmental regulations, waste-to-energy technologies, circular economy initiatives, smart waste management systems, increased waste recycling, and the development of green infrastructure. It is determined that the growing awareness of environmental problems and increasing public pressure are leading to an increase in government investment in the development of innovative technologies for effective waste management. It is established that the promotion of recycling infrastructure and the implementation of campaigns aimed at raising awareness among the population leads to an increase in the importance of responsible waste management, the introduction of public-private partnerships in the field of waste management and the development of green infrastructure. The market is analyzed by region, end user, and waste type. According to the regional analysis, North America has the largest market share, but Asia Pacific is showing the fastest growth. North America has a large waste management market due to its developed infrastructure and high level of environmental awareness. However, Asia-Pacific, particularly China and India, is emerging as a growth center due to rapid economic development, population growth, and rapid urbanization, indicating the potential for new waste management markets in this region. According to the analysis by waste type, industrial waste is the largest category, with the electronic segment showing dynamic growth. This analysis allows to forecast the market and trends in the waste management industry, which makes it possible to calculate costs and profits, scale global trends to Ukrainian realities, and offer promising investment opportunities, which is especially important in the times of recovery of Ukraine.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS LEVEL AMONG SAUDI WOMEN AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO SUSTAINABLE THINKING

Recognizing environmental concerns is crucial for fostering a mindset and implementing behaviors that contribute to sustainability. Individuals with good environmental awareness engage well in environmentally supportive behaviors and think in ways that contribute to a sustainable future. The current research aims to assess the level of environmental awareness among Saudi women and unveil the relationship between the level of environmental awareness and sustainable thinking. Additionally, the research seeks to explore the possibility of predicting sustainable thinking based on the level of environmental awareness. A questionnaire on environmental awareness and a questionnaire on sustainable thinking were applied to 176 female teachers working in the Wadi Dawasir governorate educational administration. The study utilised a descriptive-analytical methodology, namely the correlational predictive approach, to examine the relationship between the research variables and make predictions about their associations. The research results indicated a high level of environmental awareness among the research sample and a high level of sustainable thinking. Furthermore, the findings revealed a statistically significant positive correlational relationship between the level of environmental awareness and sustainable thinking. The results also demonstrated the possibility of predicting sustainable thinking based on the level of environmental awareness in the research sample.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS LEVEL AMONG SAUDI WOMEN AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO SUSTAINABLE THINKING

Recognizing environmental concerns is crucial for fostering a mindset and implementing behaviors that contribute to sustainability. Individuals with good environmental awareness engage well in environmentally supportive behaviors and think in ways that contribute to a sustainable future. The current research aims to assess the level of environmental awareness among Saudi women and unveil the relationship between the level of environmental awareness and sustainable thinking. Additionally, the research seeks to explore the possibility of predicting sustainable thinking based on the level of environmental awareness. A questionnaire on environmental awareness and a questionnaire on sustainable thinking were applied to 176 female teachers working in the Wadi Dawasir governorate educational administration. The study utilised a descriptive-analytical methodology, namely the correlational predictive approach, to examine the relationship between the research variables and make predictions about their associations. The research results indicated a high level of environmental awareness among the research sample and a high level of sustainable thinking. Furthermore, the findings revealed a statistically significant positive correlational relationship between the level of environmental awareness and sustainable thinking. The results also demonstrated the possibility of predicting sustainable thinking based on the level of environmental awareness in the research sample.

Machine Learning Methods Analysis of Preceding Factors Affecting Behavioral Intentions to Purchase Reduced Plastic Products

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the use of personal protective equipment and single-use plastics, which has exacerbated plastic littering on land and in marine environments. Consumer behaviors with regards to eco-friendly products, their acceptance, and intentions to purchase need to be explored to help businesses achieve their sustainability goals. This paper establishes the Sustainability Theory of Planned Behavior (STPB), an integration of the TPB and sustainability domains, in order to analyze the said objectives. The study employed a machine learning ensemble method and used MATLAB to analyze the data. The results showed that support and attitude from perceived authorities were the main variables influencing customers’ intentions for purchasing reduced plastic products. Customers with a high level of environmental awareness were more likely to embrace reduced plastic items as a way to lessen their ecological footprint and support environmental conservation, making perceived environmental concern another important factor. This shows that authorities play a big role in the community in influencing people to choose reduced plastic products, making it the duty of governments and companies to promote environmental awareness. This study emphasizes the significance of the latent variables considered when developing marketing plans and activities meant to promote products with less plastic.

The environmental awareness of nurses as environmentally sustainable health care leaders: a mixed method analysis

BackgroundPeople worldwide are concerned with the possibility of climate change, microplastics, air pollution, and extreme weather affecting human health. Countries are implementing measures to reduce environmental impacts. Nurses play a vital role, primarily through Green Teams, in the process of promoting sustainable practices and minimizing the environmental footprint of health care facilities. Despite existing knowledge on this topic, assessing nurses’ environmental awareness and behavior, including the barriers they face, is crucial with regard to improving sustainable health care practices.AimTo analyze the environmental awareness and behavior of nurses, especially nurse leaders, as members of the Green Team and to identify areas for improvement with regard to the creation of a sustainable environment.MethodsA sequential mixed-method study was conducted to investigate Spanish nurses. The study utilized an online survey and interviews, including participant observation. An online survey was administered to collect quantitative data regarding environmental awareness and behavior. Qualitative interviews were conducted with environmental nurses in specific regions, with a focus on Andalusia, Spain.ResultsMost of the surveyed nurses (N = 314) exhibited moderate environmental awareness (70.4%), but their environmental behavior and activities in the workplace were limited (52.23% of participants rarely performed relevant actions, and 35.03% indicated that doing so was difficult). Nurses who exhibited higher levels of environmental awareness were more likely to engage in sustainable behaviors such as waste reduction, energy conservation, and environmentally conscious purchasing decisions (p < 0.05). Additionally, the adjusted model indicated that nurses’ environmental behavior and activities in the workplace depend on the frequency of their environmental behaviors outside work as well as their sustainable knowledge (p < 0.01). The results of the qualitative study (N = 10) highlighted certain limitations in their daily practices related to environmental sustainability, including a lack of time, a lack of bins and the pandemic. Additionally, sustainable environmental behavior on the part of nursing leadership and the Green Team must be improved.ConclusionsThis study revealed that most nurses have adequate knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to environmental sustainability both inside and outside the workplace. Limitations were associated with their knowledge and behaviors outside of work. This study also highlighted the barriers and difficulties that nurses face in their attempts to engage in adequate environmental behaviors in the workplace. Based on these findings, interventions led by nurses and the Green Team should be developed to promote sustainable behaviors among nurses and address the barriers and limitations identified in this research.Graphical

Social Media’s Influence on Eco-Friendly Choices in Fitness Services: A Mediation Moderation Approach

In the evolving landscape of the building sector, the digital sphere is reshaping consumer engagement and purchase behaviors, especially in the sustainability-focused niche of fitness facilities. Utilizing the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and elaboration likelihood model (ELM), this study examines the impact of social media influence (SMI) on purchasing intentions for sustainable fitness services (PISFS) through the mediating role of green building consumption perceptions (GBCPs) and the moderating effect of environmental awareness (EA). To examine the proposed relationships and achieve the objectives of the study, 672 valid responses were collected from professionals and customers in fitness services in Turkey and analyzed using Smart PLS 4. The results of the data analysis revealed that SMI positively impacts PISFS, SMI positively impacts GBCP, GBCP positively impacts PISFS, GBCP plays an effective mediation role between SMI and PISFS, the influence of social media on purchasing intentions for sustainable fitness services is further enhanced at high levels of environmental awareness, and the impact of social media on green building consumption perceptions is further strengthened at higher levels of environmental awareness. This study’s insights call for the building sector, particularly in sustainable fitness facilities, to actively integrate social media strategies and environmental awareness into their marketing and design. Emphasizing green building attributes on digital platforms can significantly influence consumer choices, steering the industry toward a more environmentally conscious and digitally engaged future.

Green Innovation for Small-to Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): Systematic Literature Review

The green innovation literature of the past few decades is not only interesting for research due to its high level of environmental awareness and the provision of green products and services, but also because of its widespread and important applications. This study aims to determine research trends related to the adoption of green innovation, especially in SMEs during 2013-2023 by using Systematic Literature Review techniques. The result of this research identifies the key elements factors of GI for managers and ultimately serve as an important reference to help formulate GI activity strategies. This research can serve as a foundation for scientific development so that the number of studies related to new topics related to green innovation also continues to increase

How education expenditures, natural resources, and GDP interact with load capacity factor in the presence of trade diversity index under COVID-19 perception: Evidence from G-7 nations

The group of seven (G-7) economies has confronted numerous financial and environmental challenges since the beginning of the 21st century, including the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hindered growth in both developed and developing nations. However, it is crucial to note that these disparate consequences are not isolated events but interconnected with the fluctuations in various economic and environmental factors. Therefore, this study examines the association between education expenditure (EDU), natural resources (NR), economic growth (GDP), trade diversification index (TRD), and load capacity factor (LCF) in the G7 nations from 1995 to 2022 through empirical analysis. Various econometric methods such as cross-sectional dependence (CD), Cross-sectionally augmented Im, Pesaran and Shin (CIPS), cross-sectional augmented Dickey-Fuller (CADF), Westerlund cointegration, and the method of moments quantile regression (MMQR), are employed. The results suggest a positive relationship between education expenditure, NR, TRD, and environmental quality in G7 nations. In general, the research suggests that G-7 nations should adopt policies centered on resilience, focusing on fostering economic conditions that can help alleviate the negative impacts of COVID-19 on the environment and socio-economic development. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of trafe digitalization in addressing the challenges faced by G-7 nations. By adopting digital technologies, G-7 countries could better manage their natural resources, streamline education expenditure, and improve trade diversification, thereby positively influencing economic growth and environmental quality. At last, it is asserted that the presence of local individuals who have a higher level of environmental awareness, acquired through education and training, can help to improve environmental quality.

Ecological awareness of stakeholders as a key determinant of ESG effects in the chain “Green Brand – Corporate Social Responsibility”

Introduction. In the modern world, where environmental issues and sustainable development are gaining increasing attention, the role of environmental awareness becomes critically important. ESG effects (environmental, social, and governance) influence business activities, investment decisions, contribute to sustainable development and social responsibility, and shape a country’s green brand. It is worth noting that stakeholders with a high level of environmental awareness play a crucial role in this process as they can influence decisions aimed at achieving environmental and social responsibility in business. The paper aims is to determine the level of public awareness of ESG effects, the green brand, and corporate social responsibility in the context of achieving sustainable development goals.Research methods. To determine the level of environmental awareness, a survey was conducted involving participants from various sectors and age groups. The survey was created using the Google Forms tool and conducted online.Results. According to the survey results, the level of education has a significant impact on awareness of sustainable development goals. Respondents aged 30 to 59, who are already employed, showed a greater interest in sustainable development, indicating the importance of practical experience and participation in the business environment. Furthermore, increasing the level of education contributes to reducing indifference towards sustainable development issues, and education in higher educational institutions plays a crucial role in shaping competencies and knowledge about sustainable development, thereby increasing awareness of ESG effects, the green brand, and corporate social responsibility.Perspectives. Despite the significant volume of scientific research related to ESG effects, the green brand, corporate social responsibility, and the achievement of sustainable development goals, it is important to provide practical justification for the impact of environmental awareness on the formation of a country’s green brand. Additionally, determining the role of education in stimulating conscious consumer behavior, participation in green innovation programs, and promoting sustainable consumption is a vital task. Future research can focus on analyzing the effectiveness of social programs and business initiatives in achieving sustainable development goals.

CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR AS COMPETITIVENESS FACTORS IN SERBIA: CURRENT STATE OF DEVELOPMENT AND KEY DRIVERS

Environmental awareness was proven to be a significant competitiveness factor among consumers with high environmental awareness levels. Since the latest scientific research has revealed an enviably high environmental awareness level among consumers on the Serbian market, the purpose of this empirical research paper is to provide insight into the current environmental awareness level and pro-environmental behaviour in business organisations in Serbia. Environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviour are explored both generally and from the standpoint of the impact of specific managerial and organisational attributes. The sample includes 107 managers interviewed using the Computer Assisted Web Interview technique. Results show a slightly above average corporate environmental awareness level and pro-environmental behaviour in the Serbian business world, with lower rankings received in comparison with Serbian consumers. Additionally, a corporate environmental awareness-behaviour gap was detected, demonstrating that barriers are more dominant than motivators for pro-environmental behaviour in the Serbian business world. The business organisation size appears as the only differing factor influencing environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviour in Serbia, showing that larger organisations face larger environmental violations and problems, and consequently develop a higher level of environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviour. The results indicate that the Serbian government, as one of the key promoters of corporate environmental responsibility, shares the same environmental awareness level and pro-environmental behaviour as Serbian business organisations, leaving consumers with the task of attempting to influence the Serbian government and Serbian corporations in order to motivate them to start behaving in a more environmentally responsible manner. This research implies that environmental awareness is not sufficiently present in managers’ minds and Serbian businesses, and, consequently, corporate pro-environmental behaviour itself, together with the present corporate environmental awareness-behaviour gap, cannot reach higher levels. This means that the opportunities to gain a significant competitive advantage on the Serbian market based on environmentally conscious business activities are being missed.

Effects of Curriculum on Environmental Attitudes: A Comparative Analysis of Environmental and Non-Environmental Disciplines

To satisfy their ever-increasing needs, humans are constantly exerting excessive pressure upon the environment, while now more than ever, the adoption of new development practices to halt environmental degradation is becoming necessary. Graduates from all disciplines should have environmental awareness, because their decisions as future professionals may affect the environment. If, however, we assume that environmental science graduates possess environmental knowledge, it is worth investigating whether this knowledge affects their environmental attitudes. Hence, the aim of this study is to compare the environmental attitudes of students attending environmental and non-environmental studies. To this end, a comparative study on environmental attitudes was conducted between students majoring in forestry and students majoring in literature studies at one of the largest universities in Greece. That is, the environmental attitudes of students whose discipline was closely related to the environment were compared to the attitudes of students whose discipline was unrelated to the environment. The results showed that students from both disciplines had positive environmental attitudes, but forestry students exhibited a discernibly higher level of environmental awareness, which can be ascribed to their participation in environmentally relevant courses. The insights gains from this study could be particularly useful to education policymakers and curriculum practitioners, since they provide evidence for the potential of curriculum content to shape pro-environmental attitudes.

ПОЛЯРНО-АЛЬПИЙСКИЙ БОТАНИЧЕСКИЙ САД-ИНСТИТУТ КАК ОСОБО ОХРАНЯЕМАЯ ПРИРОДНАЯ ТЕРРИТОРИЯ И МЕСТО ДЛЯ РАЗВИТИЯ ТУРИЗМА: ПРЕДСТАВЛЕНИЯ ЖИТЕЛЕЙ КИРОВСКО-АПАТИТСКОГО РАЙОНА

Today, the demand for environmentally responsible tourism is growing noticeably. Travelers demonstrate an interest in exploring undisturbed nature that can be found in special protection areas. As part of a network of such areas, botanical gardens can become important elements in the development of sustainable tourism in regions and cities. However, this is no easy task, as it requires preserving natural ecosystems while providing comfortable conditions for tourists. One of the foundations for environmental activities is the opinion of local communities about nature conservation. As the first step towards promoting sustainable tourism on the territory of the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute of N. A. Avrorin (PABGI; Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences), the only botanical garden in Russia operating in the Arctic, a survey was conducted to investigate the opinions of local residents about this institution as a special protection area and the possibilities for tourism development. The Botanical Garden is an essential element of the historical and cultural landscape not only of the city of Kirovsk but also of the neighboring city of Apatity. The respondents generally demonstrated a high level of environmental awareness. However, questions about the PABGI’s territorial boundaries and the species of plants listed in the Red Book of the Murmansk region posed challenges. The survey revealed that residents of the Kirovsko-Apatitsky district have a positive attitude towards tourism development on the PABGI’s territory. They recognize that it is a protected area and that maintaining special visitation rules is crucial. The results indicate that PABGI needs to intensify its efforts in organizing educational events and interacting with the population, as respondents repeatedly noted the need to expand such activities. According to the citizens, the territory of the botanical garden is a platform where researchers, residents, nature, and culture can interact. Currently, PABGI faces difficulties in performing functions other than its primary ones of natural ecosystem conservation and research. This is largely because special regulations are required on the territory of protected areas, and there are not enough opportunities for sustainable tourism development. A consistent strategy for improving and developing tourism infrastructure needs to be developed in the future.

Herausforderung Klimawandel: Transfer von Wissenschaft in die Gesellschaft durch einen Online-Workshop

BackgroundAccording to the World Health Organisation, climate change poses the greatest health threat to humanity. At the same time, an environmentally friendly lifestyle has a positive impact on our health, such as a plant-based diet. In order to counter climate change, society needs to be informed about climate-friendly and health-promoting measures. Therefore, an online workshop was initiated at the Medical Faculty of Ulm. In an accompanying study, it was determined whether this leads to changes in environmental knowledge and awareness among the participants. MethodsThe online workshop consisted of four 2-hour sessions. Scientific basics on climate change and possible solutions were discussed. Other focuses were on health and the health system as well as environmental psychology and climate change denial. Participants could take part in an anonymous and voluntary online survey before (pretest) and after (posttest) the workshop. Results86 participants took part in the workshop, of whom 24 attended all appointments and completed both surveys. While hardly any changes were observed in the subsection of environmental emotion, perception and behavior, there was a significant increase in environmental knowledge in the posttest. The workshop was evaluated very positively. Furthermore, many participants were motivated to make a personal contribution to climate protection after the workshop. ConclusionThe workshop serves as a good example of how medical scientific findings can be shared at a societal level. The participants already showed a high level of environmental awareness in the pretest, which is why the question remains open as to how people can be sensitized to the (health) threats posed by climate change who do not proactively sign up for such an offer themselves.

Examining the Relationship between Renewable Energy and Environmental Awareness

The use of green and renewable energies undeniably plays an essential role in today’s society. Energy from these sources plays a key role in transforming the energy sector and significantly impacts the way of life and the quality of life of different social groups. The main aspects of this study are to briefly describe the situation of clean and renewable energy in Hungary and to investigate the extent to which the younger generation of different social groups is involved in using renewable energy sources in their everyday lives and their attitudes towards environmental awareness. In our research, we also investigate whether there is a strong statistical correlation between environmental awareness, environmentally damaging activities and the perceptions of different environmental problems among the target groups and, if so, how these affect the research topic. Our primary research can be considered representative, as we surveyed all primary and secondary school students in the Gyöngyös micro-region of the North-Hungarian region and also included the opinion of university students in the mentioned micro-region. The questionnaire was asked in person, and 2180 students completed it. The research was carried out in several phases, the first occurring between 2017 and 2019 and the second between 2020 and 2021. Three research questions were formulated, and the main findings show that the students’ main goal in the research was not to protect or support the environment but to prefer material well-being and related factors. On the results of statistical correlation analyses, overall, the examination by educational level (primary, secondary and higher) does not show significant differences between student groups, i.e., students with higher education do not have higher levels of environmental awareness and attitudes. Another important finding is that using renewable energy sources is considered too expensive for low-income families to take advantage of this kind of energy.

Establishing a Relationship Between Demographic Factors and Students' Environmental Awareness

A lack of environmental education has been shown to lead to lower levels of environmental awareness and consequently fewer climate change prevention measures (Toksoz et al., 2011). Researchers who study this issue focus on identifying the populations most vulnerable to a lack of environmental awareness based on demographic factors like household income and education level (Ajuang et al., 2016; Philippsen et al., 2017; Sun et al., 2020). This research is essential in guiding future climate-related education efforts, but there is limited data on the topic. In order to fill in this research gap, this project focuses on the relationship between demographic factors and the environmental awareness of high school students in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. One hundred twenty-five high school students were surveyed, and data were collected relating to students' annual household income, parental/guardian education, age, gender, race, household recycling and gardening practices, and environmental awareness. It was found that, in general, students with higher household income levels, parental/guardian education levels, or age had higher levels of environmental awareness. However, students with the lowest parental education levels also showed increased environmental awareness compared to other lower levels. Male students tended to be slightly more environmentally aware than female students, and students whose families recycled or gardened regularly had higher levels of environmental awareness than those who did not. This information can help to guide future environmental education campaigns to improve environmental awareness levels and environmental relationships, which is needed to effectively address the risks posed by climate change.

People-Centred Development of a Smart Waste Bin.

The study presented in this article focuses on the role of a smart waste bin (waste container) designed for waste management and explores what types of interventions people consider more appropriate in promoting environmentally responsible behaviour—based on norms or on an individual’s emotions. The smart waste bin development process was people-centred and paid particular attention to human experiences, allowing for various interaction modalities. By incorporating various sensors for waste volume and weight measurement in conjunction with presence and user identification capabilities, the experience was personalised. User feedback was collected by an extensive survey, consisting of four systematic sections, where values, attitudes, norms, perceived behavioural control, behavioural intention and actual behaviour were examined. The survey was completed by 194 respondents. The results showed that participants at the declarative level show a high level of environmental awareness and are very much willing to handle waste appropriately. Additionally, the results of the R&D process indicated that relatively cheap and efficient technological solutions can be developed to support waste management and sustainable lifestyles if the human-centred approach is taken into account.