Perceptions Of Environmental Issues Research Articles

Temporal Stability of Attitudes towards Climate Change and Willingness to Pay for the Emissions Reduction Options in Queensland, Australia

Citizens’ attitudes towards and their perceptions of climate change are widely believed to influence citizens’ actions related to climate change. Knowledge of these attitudes and willingness to pay (WTP) for environmental improvement can be useful in designing an environmental policy. Although citizens’ attitudes and perceptions are likely to affect their WTP, they are rarely included in the non-market valuation. Furthermore, over time, attitudes and perceptions of environmental issues are likely to change. An understanding of temporal stability of attitudes towards climate change could shed the light on changes in citizens’ WTP for environmental quality over time. This study examined changes in perceptions, attitudes, and actions towards climate change using two surveys in Queensland, Australia. The surveys were administered 10 years apart (2009 and 2018). The effect of attitudes over time on WTP was analysed using a contingent valuation (CV) method. The results confirmed that attitudes and perceptions of climate change were important factors affecting actions of respondents. Furthermore, over time, some attitudes and perceptions changed significantly. However, only some attitudes and perceptions were significant predictors of consumers’ WTP for a change in environmental quality.

The Influence of Light and Color in Digital Paintings of Environmental Issues on Emotions and Cognitions

This study aimed to examine the use of light and color in digital paintings and their effect on audiences’ perceptions of environmental issues. Five digital paintings depicting environmental issues have been designed. Digital painting techniques created black-and-white, monochrome, and color images. Each image used utopian and dystopian visualization concepts to communicate hope and despair. In the experiment, 225 volunteers representing students in colleges were separated into three independent groups: the first group was offered black-and-white images, the second group was offered monochromatic images, and the third group was offered color images. After viewing each image, participants were asked to complete questionnaires about their emotions and cognitions regarding environmental issues, including identifying hope and despair and the artist’s perspective at the end. The analysis showed no differences in emotions and cognitions among participants. However, monochromatic images were the most emotionally expressive. The results indicated that the surrounding atmosphere of the images created despair, whereas objects inspired hope. Artists should emphasize the composition of the atmosphere and the objects in the image to convey the concepts of utopia and dystopia to raise awareness of environmental issues.

Environmental education of the elderly – towards an active, inclusive and trust-based ecosystem

The aim of the paper is to develop a proposal for an Active, Inclusive and Trust-Based Framework of Environmental Education of the Elderly. It is based on the concept of environmental education, active and healthy ageing as well as generativity, and also takes into account trust in sources of environmental knowledge. In the course of quantitative research (n = 401) carried out among Poles 55+ in order to validate it, the perception of environmental issues, the awareness of and motivation for undertaking pro-environmental actions, and the credibility of sources of knowledge about environmental behaviour were examined. Elderly individuals in Poland express their belief in the need to take care of the natural environment. They are afraid that maintaining the status quo will cause permanent damage to the environment. In their opinion, pro-environmental behaviour is necessary to save the planet. These key conclusions have confirmed the correctness of the assumptions about the need for environmental education of the elderly, leading primarily to their environmental activation. Varied assessments of the credibility of sources of environmental knowledge indicate the need to assign them adequate priorities in the environmental education of the elderly. Our findings have important implications for shaping non-formal environmental education of seniors.

Perception of French wine buyers regarding environmental issues in wine production

ABSTRACT Increased consumer concern for the environment has motivated winegrowers to adopt more environmentally friendly practices in their vineyards, such as agroecological measures. Thanks to a 2016 French ministerial decree, these measures can now be included in the specifications of wine appellations. However, little is known about consumer perceptions on this topic. The main objective of this research was thus to analyze consumers’ perceptions of environmental issues in wine production, specifically with respect to a selection of agroecological measures in the vineyard. A national survey with 1022 respondents was conducted online in July 2019, and the factors that influenced perceptions were identified using an analysis of variance. The environmental issue of highest concern for consumers was the use of pesticides. However, the majority of the measures selected were perceived as having a positive impact on the environment. Practices aimed at improving biodiversity – such as the preservation of low walls and nest boxes, the establishment of trees, or sodding between parcels – were highly valued by consumers. This research demonstrates that, in order for winemakers to reap the maximum benefit from the implementation of environmentally friendly practices, effective communication of such practices to consumers is crucial.

University Students’ Perception of Environmental Issues

The present paper focuses on environmental awareness and perception of environmental issues by university students in Slovakia. We attempt to find out what problems of the environment are considered to be the most critical ones from the students’ point of view. In addition to that, another objective is to elaborate a list of students’ suggestions regarding raising motivation of people to adopt an eco-friendly behaviour. For the research we used a questionnaire consisting of 9 questions. The results show that students perceive as most critical environmental problems water and air pollution, traffic, waste, deforestation and overconsumption.

An exploratory study of students’ perceptions of environmental issues as social work practice and their understanding of environmental justice

ABSTRACT As environmental crises continue to rise, the profession of social work in the US is being called to incorporate environmental justice content in the training and education of social workers to prepare them for addressing the effects of environmental injustices; however, students’ awareness of the profession’s environmental justice mission is uncertain. The current mixed-method study sought to explore this issue amongst a sample of social work students (N = 724) in the US. Overall, students mildly to moderately believe that environmental issues are part of practice, and regression results revealed that greater support was associated with the belief in climate change and completing a university course that included environmental injustice. Content analysis of an open-ended question that asked students to define ‘environmental justice’ revealed that students primarily defined this term within the context of general environmental harm (28%) and 15% linked this term to a disproportionate exposure to hazards among people who have been historically oppressed and marginalized. Together these results suggested that further educational efforts may be needed to expand students’ knowledge of environmental (in)justice and how it is part of practice across the micro-macro continuum.

Knowledge and Perceptions of Environmental Issues by African Americans/Blacks in Washington, DC, USA: Giving Voice to the Voiceless

Our study elucidated knowledge and perceptions of natural resources and climate change by African Americans/Blacks in Washington, DC since they are a traditionally marginalized population and to see if we could dispel the perception that they have low knowledge and interest in environmental issues. Secondarily, we wanted to determine if knowledge and perceptions vary across age groups. We conducted a survey of 491 Blacks in the District and asked 26 questions/statements related to natural resources, climate change, economics, and health. Participants were categorized into four age groups 18–25, 26–40, 41–65, and 66 and older for analysis. We found that the level of environmental knowledge across the age groups was relatively high and largely similar. Our results suggest that Blacks care about the environment, see the environment as beneficial to their health, and are knowledgeable about natural resources. However, younger Blacks (18–25) were the least likely to think of the natural world as a community to which they belong, report feelings of connection to it, and recognize that it impacts their personal welfare. In conclusion, we find that Blacks in the District possess environmental awareness and use local environmental language, depicting the uniqueness of their community. The mainstream environmental movement may fail to recognize this local language, leading to exclusion of vulnerable populations based on a faulty premise that these populations lack knowledge or interest in environmental issues.

Reading Climate Change in the Palimpsest: The Ecocritical Potential of Novel-to-Film Adaptation

Abstract This essay theorizes the manifestation of the theme of climate change in the reception of novels and their film adaptations. To this end, I draw from and adapt Amitav Ghosh’s conception of textual hybridity: asserting that the era of climate change perhaps requires a movement beyond language to the image, which he believes is better capable of representing physical form, Ghosh prophesies that literature will evolve to incorporate hybrid forms that entwine text and image, such as the graphic novel. Drawing from Gérard Genette, as well as from various adaptation theorists’ descriptions of the doubled perception of an adaptation by audiences acquainted with its source text, I suggest a shift from Ghosh’s idea of hybrid creation to that of hybrid reception. I argue that the reception of a film adaptation of a novel as an adaptation, rather than as a standalone cinematic text, involves a palimpsest-like superimposition of literature and cinema—text and image—in the spectator’s mind, constituting a rich, hybrid experience that can potentially enhance the recipient’s perception of environmental issues in both texts involved. I demonstrate this theory via close readings of Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games trilogy and its film adaptations, and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and its film adaptation, illustrating the various kinds of intertextual relationships that arise out of what I call palimpsestuous reading, and ultimately indicating the value of adaptation in an age of environmental crisis.

Perception of global environmental problems by Generation C and its marketing communication preferences

With the technological progress of human society, the digital lifestyle of consumers is also growing. The growth of digital lifestyle contributes to the emergence of a new perspective on consumer segmentation, which increasingly appears to be necessary. It is mainly the Internet connection, sharing of various topics, creation of contents or communities that is forming a new subsegment of consumers – so-called Generation C. Its name is derived from the English word „connected“ in the meaning of connection of these consumers to the Internet. This consumer segment has fresh information at its disposal and reacts faster on various social topics. It consists of consumers of different ages who have been derived from psychographic criteria, but mostly consist of young people. Several researches has shown that the young are not neglectful to environmental issues and have a rather positive attitude to environmental topics. Innovative communication of environmental topics may enhance awareness of all global issues and therefore, the main goal of our research was to obtain information on consumer behaviour of Generation C in the area of their relation to environmental topics and their requirements for marketing communication of environmentally friendly products, mainly in trading companies. Our main objective was to explore the perception of environmental issues by Generation C and their preference for marketing communications. Statistical methods of one-dimensional and multidimensional data analysis were used to evaluate research results.

Análisis comparativo de la implementación de la educación ambiental en programas de licenciatura de tres universidades

La educación ambiental (EA) surge a partir de la gran preocupación en todo el mundo ante la crisis ambiental y es parte de un proceso que promueve competencias socioambientales. La universidad representa un espacio adecuado para introducir saberes ambientales en el currículo; de tal manera que las competencias específicas y de egreso del proyecto educativo sean complementadas ambientalmente. El objetivo de esta investigación fue realizar un análisis comparativo sobre la integración de la EA en programas de licenciatura de tres universidades: Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero (México), Universidad Regional de Blumenau (Brasil) y Universidad Metropolitana Nelson Mandela (Sudáfrica).
 Es una investigación mixta con enfoque comparativo y descriptivo. Se realizó en el periodo 2015-2017. Se aplicó una encuesta a profesores y a estudiantes de los programas objeto de estudio, una entrevista a integrantes de los programas de México y Sudáfrica y cuestionarios de opinión a informantes clave del currículo de los programas de la universidad de Brasil, y se revisaron algunos documentos oficiales. Las dimensiones consideradas en los instrumentos y técnicas fueron con base en los siguientes elementos: percepción de la problemática ambiental, la relación que existe entre la EA y el currículo, las competencias ambientales que promueven docentes y forman estudiantes y la revisión de reglamentos que establecen la integración de la EA en el plan de estudio.
 El resultado de la encuesta evidenció, entre otras cosas, que estudiantes y profesores de los programas educativos de México cuentan con un menor grado de percepción de la problemática ambiental en comparación con los profesores de los programas de las otras dos universidades. De la información proporcionada por informantes claves se dedujo que dos programas de la universidad de México y los dos de Brasil contemplan de alguna forma la EA. Sin embargo, en la primera es en menor proporción y de manera disciplinar; en la segunda es en mayor proporción: su integración es de manera transversal y está en proceso. En el programa de Sudáfrica, la EA no figura. En cuanto a los documentos oficiales, los programas de México y Brasil cuentan con un sustento que respalda la integración de la EA; en el caso de Sudáfrica no se cuenta con un documento oficial.
 La incorporación de la EA en los programas de las universidades se vislumbra cuando se inmiscuye la dimensión ambiental en el currículo de manera disciplinar, transversal o de otro modo. En consecuencia, se desarrollan diversas tareas para preservar el medio y buscar la sustentabilidad.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS PERCEPTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE IN LATVIA

Environmental education issues are topical at all levels of education, from kindergarten to lifelong learning. The focus of this study was on young people. Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA) is located in Vidzeme region in Latvia, where the only biosphere reserve in Latvia is located. ViA researchers started research in this area already in 2006, surveying the local population on environmental, social and economic issues in 2007. In 2018 ViA students repeatedly carried out a study of this area by surveying young people up to the age of 19 (n = 120) with an aim of exploring the views of young people living in the biosphere reserve on environmental issues. Environmental awareness is one of the key factors influencing people's behaviour in deciding on a sustainable lifestyle.The European Union regularly conducts research of its citizens on environmental issues. In the latest report the respondents from Latvia have shown one of the lowest indicators when responding to the statement "You can participate in environmental protection yourself" – 76% agree with this statement, in comparison with, for example, the Netherlands – 97%, Sweden – 96%. The youth survey in a face-to-face form was conducted from April to May 2018; it was done by the students and the obtained results were analyzed and compared with the study of 2007 by the authors of the article to characterize the trends in the perception of young people of environmental issues in a specially protected nature territory.The perception of environmental issues was analyzed according to Bolscho environmental awareness dimensions. In general, the understanding and knowledge of environmental issues of the young people surveyed living in the territory of North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve (NVBR) is positive, especially on resource-responsible, economical use. In terms of attitudes and values, young people express their support for the preservation of cultural traditions. With regard to the visibility of the NVBR, more work is required to explain the functions and possibilities of the NVBR. Compared to 2007, the feeling of pride of the fact that a respondent lives in a protected nature area has increased.

Assessment of community knowledge and perception on environmental issues in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Environmental knowledge and perceptions of community govern the sustainable use and management of environmental resources. Developing countries such as Ethiopia has been facing serious environmental problems. In spite of the existing problems, little is known about public understanding and perception of environmental issues. Thus, the overall objective of this research was to assess community perception and knowledge of environmental issues. Interview was conducted using structured questionnaire. The collected data was coded, cleaned and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result indicates, most of the community members believed that they have better knowledge of environmental issues but the evidence obtained from measured knowledge shows the reverse. The principal source of environmental information (local media broadcasting) had positive correlation with perceived knowledge, and negatively correlated with assessed knowledge and perception index of environmental issues. Correctly answered questions used in the evaluation of environmental knowledge were weekly associated (r < .2) with perceived knowledge and perception, which indicates the respondents lacks same concept on environmental issues. Perceived knowledge was negatively and significantly (P <.001) determined by age and educational levels of respondents. But, measured knowledge was negatively and significantly (P <.05) affects by age, childhood area, education and occupation when positively and significantly (P = .001) influenced by origin of residence. The perception of community was positively and significantly (P =.001) determined by respondent's age, childhood area, education and information source but negatively and significantly (P < .05) influenced by origin of residence and ethnic group. Generally, self-reported knowledge is not reliable source of information for environmental management decisions. So, stakeholders should strongly works on environmental awareness campaigns, engage students in outdoor activities, and training to improve factors negatively determined community's factual knowledge and perception of environment.

Adolescents of the 1990s and Today: Perceptions of Environmental Issues

The article is devoted to the dynamics of the attitude of adolescents to environmental problems. Relevance of the article is determined by the prospect of active influence of the younger generation on the environment in the near future. The attitude of teenagers in 1996 and 2017 to the possibility of economic growth and improvement of the well-being of Russians due to environmental degradation, as well as their concern about environmental problems (air and water pollution, deforestation, etc.) is analyzed. A comparison of the data from two surveys on “Adolescent health and the environment” in 1996 and 2017 showed that despite the deepening environmental crisis, the proportion of adolescents had almost doubled over the past two decades (13.1% in 1996, compared to 24.1% in 2017) of those who fully or partially agreed with the prospect of Russia’s economic growth due to environmental pollution, by 9.4% of those who agreed that the welfare of the people should be improved to the detriment of it; in addition, the share of adolescents who expressed serious concern about environmental problems has decreased, and the participation of respondents in environmental movements remains at a low level. There is also a positive trend: over two decades, the proportion of those who never litter the streets or nature has almost tripled. The article also considers data of all-Russian adult population surveys, which show that in comparison with the 1990s, the anxiety of Russians about environmental problems in their places of residence has decreased. In some questions, young people are more complacent than the older generation, although there is no basis for this. In the West, schoolchildren are active in the fight against global warming. The mass of the movement suggests the impact of this activity from school environmental education and education for sustainable development, which is given insufficient attention in Russia.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION: THE PERCEPTION OF BABY BOOMERS, GENERATION X AND Y IN BRAZIL

The different generations, Baby Boomers, X and Y are inserted in society, consuming natural resources and impacting the environment. This study aims to analyze the perception of generations on the relationship of environmental sustainability, environmental practices and sustainable consumption, through the analysis of 824 respondents from different regions of Brazil. The methodology used in the research was quantitative and descriptive, through survey and evaluated by the exploratory factor analysis and multiple linear regression, in order to determine the relationship between constructs. The results highlight that generations have different perceptions of environmental issues. Baby boomers presented greater awareness of environmental sustainability in relation to sustainable consumption, as well as generation Y of environmental practices with sustainable consumption. Based on the results of the research, we suggest that companies and institutions should invest in education and environmental awareness actions, to improve the quality of life and minimize environmental impact.

Public perception of climate change in a period of economic crisis in Puerto Rico

In this study, an analysis is performed to measure Puerto Rican citizens’ perceptions of environmental issues and global climate change (GCC). Puerto Rico (PR) is presently facing an economic crisis that began in 2010. In addition, the island has faced many extreme weather events that have greatly impacted the economy, including a dry period that lasted from the beginning of 2014 until the end of 2015 [1]. By replicating a study done in Greece (GR), [2] found that the citizens of PR are more informed about GCC (43%) than Greeks (34%). However, only 29% of Puerto Ricans said they knew about the effects of greenhouse gases, as compared to 44% of Greeks. The citizens of PR (67%) and GR (91%) claim they do not have confidence that their respective governments and agencies will be able to face GCC. In both cases, they have a higher confidence level in environmental organizations than in the scientific community. In PR, 89% of the citizens are concerned about the degradation of natural resources. At 64%, this concern is also significant in the case of GR, although the figure has decreased from previous years. Both countries place more responsibility in the hands of those in government and industry to take action on GCC. That being said, the people of GR have made it known they are willing to perform individual actions as well.

Undergraduate student perceptions of environmental issues.

Students enrolled in ecology or environmental science courses for non-majors often have misconceptions related to anthropogenic forcing of climate change and sustainability. The purpose of this study was to examine the sources of these misconceptions and to evaluate students’ confidence in their understanding of environmental issues. The data for the study came from 23 student interviews. When asked what the word “environment” meant to them, 81% of students responded that it represented the physical environment. Students were asked where they obtained their information about the environment, and 18% responded from their teachers or classes; 18% responded social media, and 18% responded family and friends. The remainder of responses were scattered among several categories. When asked specifically about climate change, 88% stated change was occurring and that it was related to human causes. The average confidence was 69% (mode = 75%). When asked about ecological sustainability, 100% of respondents understood the term with self-reported confidence in their answers averaging 74% (mode = 80%). When compared to surveys completed by the same cohort, we found that 75% of responses matched the interview questions. In conclusion, we found that students’ perceptions of environment originate from a variety of sources, and that friends and family have a greater influence than television and social media.Research conducted under WVWC IRB Approval # WVWC 2016-001.

Environmental Problem Perception of 6th Grade Students

This study aims to examine and compare the 6th grade students’ perceptions of environmental issues through different techniques. For this purpose, we have tried to establish the students' perceptions of environmental issues by studying the pictures they drew and the written texts they wrote. In this study, which we have conducted with 62 students in two different secondary schools in Duzce Central during the 1st semester of the 2014-2015 academic year, we have employed a phenomenological pattern. The obtained data have been analysed using a content analysis method. As a result of the study, the themes of air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, visual pollution, endangerment of species, noise pollution, natural disasters, biological pollution and radioactive pollution in the students’ perceptions of environmental issues have been identified. When the themes of environmental problems, obtained through two different techniques, have been compared, it has been established that the number of themes expressed in the written texts are higher than the ones in the pictures. Keywords: Environmental problems, students’ drawings, students’ writing

Higher Education Students’ Perceptions of Environmental Issues and Media Coverage

Abstract This study aims to find higher education students’ perceptions about environmental issues and how the perceptions are related to perceptions of media coverage. This study investigates higher education students’ perceptions of the seriousness of environmental issues and their relation to perceptions of media coverage. Higher education students perceived a global problem, lack of clean water, as most serious environmental problem. Media has had an effect on students’ perceptions on environmental issues: when students perceived the problem as serious they also perceived the information in media concerning it appropriate. Students perceived that the media underestimate and obscure some environmental problems such as biological diversity and global warming. It was concluded that higher education educators need more knowledge of students’, future decision makers’ concerns and perceptions about environmental issues to develop more effective teaching practices in higher education. Through education environmental issues literacy, which is a precursor for engaged protection of the environment, can be fostered. This study offers some insights into higher education students’ perceptions of the media’s role in environmental issues.

Comparison of Children’s and Parents’ Perception of Environmental Issues and Future in Each Geographical Scale

Comparison of Children’s and Parents’ Perception of Environmental Issues and Future in Each Geographical Scale

Participación social en la gestión ambiental: estudio de caso en una unidad de conservación urbana en el municipio de São Paulo, Brasil

El presente artículo trata de una inmersión en la realidad social de la comunidad del entorno del Parque Estatal de las Fuentes de Ipiranga, una unidad de conservación urbana de la ciudad de Sno Paulo, el tercer remanente más importante de la Mata Atlántica del municipio. El estudio de caso aquí presentado describe el proceso de gestión participativa que incluyó a los grupos interesados en la acción: el poder público del municipio (prefectura de la ciudad de Diadema), el poder estatal (Instituto de Botánica) y la comunidad local. En el campo de la investigación y la acción se utilizaron técnicas de grupo focal para detectar los principales conflictos ambientales del área; se realizaron entrevistas con los moradores para entender su percepción sobre los problemas ambientales, y se hicieron reuniones periódicas para planear las acciones a seguir. Los resultados nos proporcionaron elementos para afirmar que hubo un proceso de capacitación de los ciudadanos en relación con la organización de las acciones colectivas; éstas arrojaron resultados significativos que mejoraron la calidad social y ambiental del área.