Environmental Risk Perception Research Articles

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

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

Iranian farmers' response to the drought crisis: How can the consequences of drought be reduced?

Climate change (CC) is an undeniable global phenomenon, impacting various regions, including Iran. Key components of CC, including the increase in greenhouse gases, rising temperatures, and fluctuations in precipitation patterns, are expected to significantly reduce agricultural crop yields in the near future. In response, identifying effective adaptation strategies is critical for mitigating these adverse effects. This study investigates the role of environmental values, risk perception, and psychological distance in shaping Iranian farmers’ adaptation strategies to CC. A sample of 390 farmers from Shushtar County in southwestern Iran was selected through a multi-stage stratified sampling method. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), the analysis revealed complex interrelationships between environmental values (biospheric, altruistic, and egoistic), beliefs, risk perception, psychological distance, and farmers' adaptation responses to CC. Furthermore, the results indicated that the study variables explain 67.6% of the variance in farmers' adaptive behaviors, with belief in CC emerging as the most influential factor. These findings not only enrich the current body of literature but also provide actionable insights for policymakers to foster adaptive strategies among farmers.

Survey instructions bias perceptions of environmental health risks

A basic function of government is to manage environmental risks. This requires measurement of how the public perceive different risks, but it is hard to measure risk perceptions in a neutral, unbiased way. In a pre-registered experiment with a nationally representative sample (N = 800), we tested the effects of survey instructions on perceived risk from common environmental health hazards. Participants were randomised to read instructions that made salient a relatively unfamiliar hazard (electromagnetic fields; EMFs), a familiar hazard (carbon monoxide) or no hazard (i.e. that the study was about environmental health risks in general) before rating the perceived risks of a series of hazards. Results revealed an asymmetric salience effect. Instructions that highlighted EMFs elicited higher perceived risk from EMFs, while perceptions of other hazards were unaffected. Instructions that made carbon monoxide salient did not affect perceptions of carbon monoxide, but diminished perceived risk from other hazards. Effects were observed using standard rating scales and via a novel policy budget allocation task. In exploratory analyses, we further tested the relationship between perceived risk as elicited by rating scales and revealed risk perceptions. How often respondents report thinking about a hazard day-to-day best predicted choices in a hypothetical budget task and self-reported mitigative behaviour, when controlling for other dimensions of perceived risk, such as perceived severity of the consequences of exposure. The results have implications for designing surveys to measure perceived risk of environmental health hazards.

Environmental, Social and Governance Awareness and Organisational Risk Perception Amongst Accountants

The relationships between accountants’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) awareness and their perceptions of organisational risk are examined in this study. The emphasis is on the operational, strategic, financial and compliance risks of business organisations. A total of 462 accountants in Hong Kong were included via stratified random sampling and snowball sampling to ensure population diversity. A stratified random approach was used to include factors such as age, gender, income and experience, and snowball sampling amongst professional networks was used to ensure representativeness. A significant positive relationship exists between ESG awareness and risk perception, with environmental and governance factors emerging as the strongest predictors. Accountants with deep ESG awareness, especially in the aforementioned areas, can successfully identify and manage nontraditional risks such as regulatory changes and environmental threats. The findings highlight the need for institutionalising ESG-focused education in accounting and corporate governance to improve risk management capabilities. Increased ESG awareness can ensure responsible and sustainable business behaviour. Future research can expand the sample of accountants to executives and use longitudinal designs to capture the dynamic nature of ESG awareness and risk perception.

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

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

A critical cognitive analysis of Japan’s nuclear contaminated water discharge discourse

This research investigates the use of compound image schemas in the discourse surrounding Japan’s nuclear wastewater discharge. By analyzing editorials from Asahi Shimbun, this study reveals how discourse producers, from government bodies to media outlets, employ image schemas to navigate, shape, and legitimize their stances on this contentious issue. The investigation identifies the prevalent use of PATH and CONTAINER schemas, facilitating the construction of complex narrative spaces that define “in-group” and “out-group” dynamics, thereby guiding public perception and discourse participation towards an implicit endorsement of specific policy directions. The findings highlight the dynamic interplay between micro-level discourse strategies and macro-level cognitive frameworks, projecting tailored narratives into the public sphere. This projection, rooted in sophisticated cognitive mechanisms, illustrates the strategic use of discourse to influence public opinion and legitimize environmental policy decisions, reflecting broader social implications and the power of discourse in shaping environmental risk perceptions.

전공 연계 ‘기후⋅생태계 챌린지’ 교외 교육활동의 효과성 연구: 예비유아교사의 환경관심도 및 기후환경 위험인식과 공동체 의식, 협력적 자기효능감을 중심으로

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the major-integrated extracurricular program of ‘Climate Ecosystem Challenge’ on pre-service early childhood teachers, focusing on environmental concern, climate environmental risk perception, sense of community, and collaborative self-efficacy. Methods The research subjects consist of 9 students attending Nano-LAB Meta at A University in the Chungcheong region. The trends(mean, standard deviation) and normality(Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Shapiro-Wilk test) of the study variables, along with the reliability assessment using Cronbach's α, were examined in SPSS 23.0. The effectiveness of major-integrated extracurricular program was tested using the non-parametric statistic of the Wilcoxon test, which is suitable for testing differences in paired samples. Results The main results are as follows: First, the difference (b-a) between the pre- and post-mean scores (a) and the post-mean score (b) indicated a minimum increaseof 0.55 points and a maximum improvement of 1.04 points in the post-mean score compared to the pre-mean score across all study variables. Second, despite the normality test not demonstrating statistical significance for some study variables, there is an intention to conduct nonparametric statistical analysis, which is justified by the central limit theorem. Third, the post test scores were higher than the pretest scores of the study variables, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusions The research findings reaffirm the significance of extracurricular education integrated with the major. In this regard, we aim to promote mutual development between the university and the local community by proposing measures for major-integrated extracurricular education with consideration for community service contributions.

Conceptualising climate change vulnerability across the agrarian transition: The example of Egypt

In this study, we explore the relationship between Egypt's agrarian transition and farmers’ perceptions of environmental risks and opportunities for climate change adaptation. Drawing from agrarian studies and rural development pathways in Egypt, we highlight structural challenges in addressing vulnerabilities of households in agrarian communities to environmental change. Our evidence comes from 350 landholders and agricultural labourers in rural Damietta, a governorate in the northeast of the Egyptian Nile Delta Region. We categorize households into three groups based on their reliance on agriculture for income, corresponding to different agrarian transition models. We find that vulnerabilities and capacities for climate change adaptation vary among these groups, with those heavily dependent on agriculture being the most vulnerable, despite having greater awareness of agricultural risks. They exhibit limited capacity to respond effectively – both in and ex situ, indicating a need for targeted support as environmental pressures increase due to climate change.

Mining disaster in Brumadinho (Brazil): Social vulnerability from the perspective of the fisherman community

On January 25, 2019, the state of Minas Gerais (MG) in Brazil witnessed yet another disaster involving the collapse of a mining tailings dam. The disaster occurred in the municipality of Brumadinho, belonging to VALE S.A. One of the activities most affected by the disaster was fishing, which suffered from the immediate death of fish, limitations on the use of water resources and uncertainty about the quality of fish for consumption. In addition, this environmental disaster may have caused socio-environmental and economic impacts, severely damaging the region's riverside community and professional artisanal fishermen. This study was carried out with the fishing community and sought to assess their social vulnerability. In order to characterize the activity and identify possible damage, semi-structured interviews were conducted in May 2022. To analyze the qualitative data, the “RAPFISH” method was adapted, considering the following dimensions: 1- social, 2- perception of environmental risk and health, 3- economic, 4- management and technology, and 5- professional organization and governance. The results showed that the fishing communities have managed to maintain and improve their conditions in some of the dimensions considered, but still present situations of social vulnerability. They indicated that fishing is fundamental to family livelihoods and continues to be practiced regardless of the community's perception of risk. However, raising awareness about fish quality, marketing and consumption after the disaster requires more information and monitoring. Our approach was able to show that, among the five components, the social, environmental and economic dimensions are priorities for planning future actions.

Do environmental risk perceptions promote individual pro-environmental behaviors? — the role of environmental concerns and natural exposure

Do environmental risk perceptions promote individual pro-environmental behaviors? — the role of environmental concerns and natural exposure

Nuclear energy acceptance in Poland: From societal attitudes to effective policy strategies-Network modeling approach.

Poland is currently undergoing substantial transformation in its energy sector, and gaining public support is pivotal for the success of its energy policies. We conducted a study with 338 Polish participants to investigate societal attitudes towards various energy sources, including nuclear energy and renewables. Applying a novel network approach, we identified a multitude of factors influencing energy acceptance. Political ideology is the central factor in shaping public acceptance, however we also found that environmental attitudes, risk perception, safety concerns, and economic variables play substantial roles. Considering the long-term commitment associated with nuclear energy and its role in Poland's energy transformation, our findings provide a foundation for improving energy policy in Poland. Our research underscores the importance of policies that resonate with the diverse values, beliefs, and preferences of the population. While the risk-risk trade-off and technology-focused strategies are effective to a degree, we advocate for a more comprehensive approach. The framing strategy, which tailors messages to distinct societal values, shows particular promise.

Psychological characteristics of environmental stakeholders and interactions in their social network

This research explores the roles of (1) the stakeholder categories conservation association, land use association, public authority and research group, (2) Organizational Culture, operationalized by the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument; (3) Environmental Worldview, operationalized by the New Environmental Paradigm; and (4) Environmental Risk Perception, operationalized by the Myths of Physical Nature, in shaping the interactions in the social network of environmental stakeholders in the city and district of Osnabrück in Northwest Germany. First, the study examines the stakeholder categories (1), regarding the expression of the constructs (2), (3) and (4) among them. Second, all constructs (1), (2), (3) and (4) are examined regarding possible correlations with the presence of collaboration and conflict between stakeholders. Our analysis reveals that (1) Stakeholder Categories are significantly correlated with the presence of collaboration, but not of conflict. (2) A significant correlation between membership of a stakeholder category and the dominant manifestation of a particular organizational culture is present, while no correlation between Organizational Cultures and the presence of collaborations or conflicts could be found. Moreover, the study highlights (3) a generally pro-environmental orientation across stakeholders as captured by the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP), indicating a shared foundation for potential collaborative efforts. (4) Analysis of Environmental Risk Perception, through the Cultural Theory’s myths of physical nature, uncovers a widespread preference for the hierarchical myth, suggesting a common perception of environmental risks and resilience. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding psychological and social dimensions in environmental stakeholder management to enhance collaborative efforts towards sustainable development. It highlights the need for management approaches that acknowledge the complex interplay of diverse psychological constructs in driving effective and sustainable collaborations between stakeholders of regional land use, nature conservation, public authorities, academia and other sectors depending on the context. Through its insights into stakeholder interactions, this research contributes to the broader discourse on achieving sustainable development goals through informed, cooperative stakeholder engagement.

Environmental risk perception of prospective biology teachers in Indonesia in the pandemic era

Environmental risk perception of prospective biology teachers in Indonesia in the pandemic era

Physical Characterisation and Analysis of the Perception of Potential Risks Associated with the Proliferation of Solid Waste along the Lomé Coastline in Togo

The coastal zone is constantly under pressure from human activities. One of these pressures is the concentration of solid waste that has escaped from the sanitation system in place. The Togolese coastline, mainly the segment from Aflao to Kpogan, is overrun by waste from households and various socioeconomic activities and is faced with the challenges of unregulated solid waste management. This situation is contributing to the degradation of the urban landscape and is giving rise to environmental and health risks. The aim of this study is to carry out a physical characterisation and analyse the perception of the potential environmental and health risks involved. The methodology included documentary research, site mapping, physical characterisation of waste using the MODECOM approach, principal component analysis and a survey of 300 households in our study area. The results show the poor waste management that prevails along the Lomé coastline, with the anarchic proliferation of waste dumps: 13 categories of waste including a predominance of flexible plastic waste out of a total of 510 kg collected. The results show that the environment is deteriorating, with unsightly, unpleasant smells and the presence of pests. These environmental risks expose the population to diseases such as malaria, lung infection, diarrhoea, typhoid fever and skin diseases.

Evacuation simulation considering pedestrian risk perception under toxic gas diffusion

Toxic gas leakage in densely populated public areas can easily endanger people's safety and social stability. This paper establishes a pedestrian evacuation model based on cellular automata that considers the pedestrians' perception of casualties and environmental risks under the real-time spread of toxic gas. The model simulates the emergency evacuation process of pedestrians and their exit selection behavior in the toxic gas leakage incident at a passenger station. The simulation results indicate that evacuees' dynamic exit selection behavior regarding the risk perception of toxic gas incidents positively affects pedestrian evacuation. An optimal perception radius and toxic gas alarm conditions exist that minimize pedestrian casualties while maximizing evacuation efficiency. An increase in the exit change probability keeps pedestrians away from risk but may lead to congestion and reduce evacuation efficiency when the pedestrian density is high. The location of the toxic gas source has different impacts on casualties, and the dynamic exit selection rules prove more effective when the gas source is closer to one of two exits rather than being located between them.

Consumer reactions to environmentally irresponsible sourcing practices: An intentionality and motive perspective

AbstractThe purpose of this research is to better understand how and why consumers pay attention to a firm's environmentally irresponsible sourcing practices. Using signaling theory, this research develops and tests a model that examines how a firm's intentionality and motive behind irresponsible environmental sourcing practices can signal a product's environmental characteristics to consumers. The findings suggest that consumers tend to view products as more environmentally harmful when they learn that a firm intentionally sources from irresponsible suppliers. Likewise, consumers are more likely to react unfavorably to a firm's products when a firm prioritizes profit motives over responsible sourcing practices. This research also offers insight into how a firm's corrective response strategy (e.g., mandatory vs. voluntary environmental supplier actions) could mitigate the adverse impact of the firm's environmentally irresponsible sourcing practices on consumer perceptions of environmental risk. The findings indicate that a firm's mandatory corrective actions targeted to its suppliers are more likely to be effective, whereas voluntary actions were found to be ineffective. Two experiments were conducted to test the study's hypotheses. Managerial and societal implications are also discussed.

The media-psychological model of environmental risk perception

The article presents the results of a theoretical analysis on the topic of media-psychological aspects of the perception of environmental risks and the presentation of the author's media psychological model of the impact of media messages on the perception of environmental risks. The presented model examines the processes and stages involved in the initial encounter with environmental risk messages in the media and the further outcomes of their processing which can manifest in information-seeking behaviour. According to the presented model, changes in risk perception are considered a series of stages initiated by attention to information and can continue when information-seeking behaviour is triggered. The main models relied on by the author of this study are the Limited Capacity Model of Motivated Mediated Message Processing to describe media message processing and the Risk Information Search and Processing Model to describe aspects of information-seeking behaviour. Several additional communication models dedicated to the consideration of information behaviour and processing of media messages were also used to describe the processes of mass media influence on the perception of environmental risks. Thus, dual models of information processing and persuasive communication are also considered, including the Heuristic-Systematic Model and the Elaboration Likelihood Model, as well as additional theories examining information-seeking behaviour: the Theory of Motivated Information Management and the Planned Risk Information Seeking Model

Perceptions of Tree Risks and Benefits in a Historically African American Neighborhood

An expansive body of research demonstrates the social and ecological benefits of urban forests, although urban tree canopy density tends to be lower than average in areas occupied by marginalized populations. Non-profit organizations and local governments have initiated tree-planting programs; however, some of these programs have encountered local resistance. This study took place in a historically African American neighborhood in the Southern USA with a low tree canopy where residents expressed disinterest in replanting trees following a tree hazard removal campaign led by a local non-profit organization. Employing focus groups and interviews, we explored residents’ environmental attitudes and risk perceptions by asking about the risks and benefits of neighborhood trees and barriers to the enjoyment of them. The material and emotional bonds residents have with the neighborhood informed their preferences about trees and green space. Trees were often viewed as hazards and financial risks, although they were an integral part of residents’ identities for themselves and their community. The findings suggest that neglecting to look at diverse perceptions will challenge a city’s ability to communicate about the urban forest and, therefore, sustainably address disparities in tree benefits and problems.

Creating safety amidst chronic contamination: A mixed-method analysis of residents’ experiences in a Southern Italian steel town

This study analyses how residents create safety in Taranto, Italy, a city located next to one of the largest steel plants in Europe. Combining long-term ethnographic research with an online-based survey, our study shows that most respondents recognise and criticise the presence of environmental risks in their daily lives but encounter such risks in complex ways. Contrary to previous scholarship suggesting that pollution can result in alienating residents from their lived environment, this research shows that acute awareness of environmental risks does not necessarily undermine attachment to place but rather can co-exist with or even strengthen it. Our findings propose first that residents experience and understand environmental risk mostly through air pollution, but often situate risks outside of their own neighbourhood and inscribe different meanings to such risk. Second, residents mitigate environmental risk through practices aimed at creating safety, such as moving away from the industrial area or using everyday practices and reflecting on their responsibility for actions. Third, we argue that residents create safety through an attachment and entitlement to place and emotional detachment from pollution and institutional failures. Finally, in line with residents’ concerns about safety and how to secure it, this study embraces a shift in its analytical focus from risk to the quest for safety. By doing so, it provides novel insights into environmental risk perception in industrially polluted areas and reveals the often-contradictory sentiments and practices that such areas invoke in residents.

Cultural worldviews and waste sorting among urban Chinese dwellers: the mediating role of environmental risk perception.

Waste sorting has received considerable attention in recent decades. However, research on the mechanisms underlying the relationships among cultural worldview, environmental risk perception, and waste sorting is rather scarce. This study aims to explore the cultural worldviews, environmental risk perception, and waste sorting among urban Chinese and their mechanisms. This was a cross-sectional study involving 744 urban Chinese residents (371 men and 373 women). A questionnaire was utilized to measure cultural worldviews, environmental risk perception, and waste sorting. Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were used to examine the relationship between cultural worldviews, perceptions of environmental risk, and waste sorting. Waste sorting had a relatively insignificant negative relationship with fatalism and individualism. The correlation between environmental risk perception and cultural worldviews was negative except for egalitarianism, and the correlation between hierarchy and environmental risk perception was higher than the others, while individualism was higher than fatalism. Heightened environmental risk perception mediates the relationship between egalitarianism and waste sorting. Reduced environmental risk perception mediates the relationship between hierarchy and waste sorting, and mediates the relationship between individualism and waste sorting. These new findings provide initial support for the mediating role of environmental risk perception in the relationship between cultural worldviews and waste sorting. Both theoretical and practical implications for understanding the psychological mechanisms of waste sorting are discussed.