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• Future orientation positively predicts conventional climate action intentions. • Present orientation negatively predicts conventional climate action intentions. • Environmental cognitive alternatives and eco-anxiety mediate these relationships. • Both orientations have positive indirect relationships with radical intentions. Motivating climate action is challenging because the worst consequences of climate change are in the future, triggering a conflict between short- and long-term interests. Prior research suggests that orienting to the future facilitates pro-environmental behavior whereas orientation to the present inhibits it; however, we consider whether different temporal orientations simply make some kinds of climate action more attractive than others. The present study tests this using structural equation modeling with two Australian samples. In a first exploratory model (N = 967), followed by a direct, pre-registered replication (N = 953), we examine how two facets of temporal orientation – consideration of future and immediate consequences – predict intentions to engage in three kinds of climate action at individual and collective levels: conventional private-sphere, conventional public-sphere, and radical public-sphere climate action. Consistent with past research, higher consideration of future consequences and lower consideration of immediate consequences are associated with intentions to take conventional action directly and indirectly via eco-anxiety and/or access to environmental cognitive alternatives. In contrast, consideration of future and immediate consequences are only indirectly related to intentions to take radical action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collective action plays a critical role in progressing efforts to protect the global environment. In this study we examined existing research that specified causal claims about the outcomes of sustained environmental collective action and analysed the collective action characteristics associated with the stated outcomes. Of the 640 studies identified in our literature search, 113 papers examined environmental collective action outcomes over a time period of one or more years. In total, 59 different environmental collective action outcomes were identified, including changing corporate/business practices (n = 16), achieving political outcomes (n = 12), fostering movement building (n = 8), development project-specific outcomes (n = 8), physical changes such as increased forest cover (n = 7), or changes in public opinion, values, or behaviours (n = 4). In terms of general outcomes (i.e., success of failure of environmental collective action) the most common outcome claimed was both success and failure (n = 44), followed by complete success (n = 37) and mostly failure (n = 18). All papers identified the use of normative collective action, while 36 papers mentioned non-violent non-normative action such as blockades and sit-ins. Across the dataset there was a lack of consistency in descriptive terminology, methodological approach and inclusion of empirical evidence in justifying causal claims. We close with recommendations for scholars' best practices for advancing research into environmental collective action outcomes, namely: consistent terminology, mapping outcomes against goals, increased studies of failure, and diversifying studies in non-WEIRD contexts. • A systematic review of 113 studies on environmental collective action outcomes. • 59 distinct outcomes are identified, including 16 corporate & 12 political. • Most studies claimed outcomes of both success & failure (n = 44) or success (n = 37). • Only 3 studies examined failed collective action & 76 focused on WEIRD contexts. • Four recommendations to guide collective action outcomes research are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • We tested messages emphasising different benefits of coastal management. • Economic messages performed more poorly than environmental or lifestyle messages. • Factual arguments were more effective than moral arguments. • All framed messages performed poorly in political conservatives. Abstract Sustainable management of coastal ecosystems requires engaged communities—communities that support sustainable management policies and are willing to adopt behaviours that promote waterway health. Information provision is a common component of engagement practices, yet little is known about what type of information will most effectively motivate engaged communities. We conducted an experimental study (N = 702) examining the effectiveness of different messages about benefits of sustainable coastal management. We examined two messages about cultural ecosystem services (economic benefits and lifestyle benefits), messages focused on conservation benefits, and a 'control' message, which mentioned threats to coastal ecosystems but no benefits of management. We also compared the effect of factual and moral arguments on engagement outcomes. Overall, economic messages generated lower intentions to adopt household behaviours, and reduced information seeking across the whole sample. Moral arguments were not more effective than messages using factual arguments. In fact, factual arguments were associated with greater policy support and behavioural intentions. We also examined the role of participant values, political orientation and knowledge on message effectiveness. Participants with a conservative political orientation exhibited poorer responses to framed messages, compared with the control message. These findings highlight the importance of considering message content when communicating with communities. Specifically, messages about ecosystem services may not be superior to environmental messages when communicating about local issues. Recommendations for effective communication commonly suggest aligning messages with audience values. While our findings do not contradict this, they do serve as a reminder to avoid simple assumptions about what these values may entail, and that groups less supportive of conservation goals are likely to require more specific strategies to enhance communication effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Strengthening of antivaccination movements in recent decades has coincided with unprecedented increases in the incidence of some communicable diseases. Many intervention programs work from a deficit model of science communication, presuming that vaccination skeptics lack the ability to access or understand evidence. However, interventions focusing on evidence and the debunking of vaccine-related myths have proven to be either nonproductive or counterproductive. Working from a motivated reasoning perspective, we examine the psychological factors that might motivate people to reject scientific consensus around vaccination. To assist with international generalizability, we examine this question in 24 countries. Methods: We sampled 5,323 participants in 24 countries, and measured their antivaccination attitudes. We also measured their belief in conspiracy theories, reactance (the tendency for people to have a low tolerance for impingements on their freedoms), disgust sensitivity toward blood and needles, and individualistic/hierarchical worldviews (i.e., people's beliefs about how much control society should have over individuals, and whether hierarchies are desirable). Results: In order of magnitude, antivaccination attitudes were highest among those who (a) were high in conspiratorial thinking, (b) were high in reactance, (c) reported high levels of disgust toward blood and needles, and (d) had strong individualistic/hierarchical worldviews. In contrast, demographic variables (including education) accounted for nonsignificant or trivial levels of variance. Conclusions: These data help identify the "attitude roots" that may motivate and sustain vaccine skepticism. In so doing, they help shed light on why repetition of evidence can be nonproductive, and suggest communication solutions to that problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of research demonstrates associations between nature connection and a wide variety of positive health and wellbeing outcomes. Yet, the interpretation of this research is restricted because underpinning mechanisms − particularly the psychological mechanisms of wellbeing enhancement as opposed to wellbeing restoration − remain largely unexplored. Understanding such mechanisms is important for theory development and for assisting policy-makers and urban planners to translate this theory into practice effectively. This essay examines the limitations in our current understanding of the psychological mechanisms involved in the relationship between nature connection and eudaimonic wellbeing. It also advances opportunities to move the field forward through exploring two potential mechanisms, namely satisfying the psychological need of relatedness and fostering intrinsic value orientation. These mechanisms may explain how an individual’s level of nature connection enhances their psychological wellbeing. Understanding such mechanisms could improve the implementation of targeted nature connection policies and interventions designed to enhance psychological wellbeing among complex urban populations with diverse needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological ownership of nature (i.e., the feeling that nature is "mine" or "ours") has been examined to encourage pro-environmental behaviors. However, a psychometrically validated measure that assesses the core of the construct is currently lacking, which undercuts its value and growing research efforts. Following recommended procedures, this paper developed and validated 6-item scales of individual and collective psychological ownership of nature, using a representative sample of Australian adults (total N = 836). The two scales exhibited high reliability and evidence of convergent, discriminant, predictive, and incremental validity, with measurement invariance across gender, age, and political subgroups. The validated individual and collective psychological ownership of nature scales were statistically distinct from proximate constructs (e.g., connection to nature and place attachment). The two scales had unique power in explaining civic pro-environmental behaviors, over and above connection to nature. Collective (but not individual) psychological ownership of nature contributed additional variance over place attachment in civic pro-environmental behaviors. This paper advances research on psychological ownership of nature by offering validated scales measuring the core of this increasingly important construct. • Psychological ownership of nature (PON) refers to one's feeling that nature is "mine" or "ours". • We develop and validate 6-item (or shortened 3-item) scales of individual and collective PON. • The two PON scales exhibit high reliability, construct and criterion-related validity, and measurement invariance. • Individual and collective PON are statistically distinct from proximate concepts (connection to nature and place attachment). • Individual and collective PON are positively linked to civic pro-environmental behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic relationship self-efficacy holds with behaviour leads us to suggest that self-efficacy may be a mediating mechanism for spillover. We tested this proposition by investigating whether engaging in simple and easy pro-environmental behaviour is associated with self-efficacy, which then increases intentions and subsequent actions towards new or more challenging pro-environmental behaviours. We tested this hypothesis in two studies using Australian residents. The first demonstrated spillover from easy water-related behaviours to more difficult water-related behavioural intentions, and the second study used longitudinal data to provide evidence for spillover from easy water conservation behaviours to the more difficult self-reported actions of installing water efficient appliances. Both studies supported our prediction of self-efficacy mediating the relationship between easy and more difficult pro-environmental self-reported behaviour. These results suggest that self-efficacy may be an important motivator of environmental spillover, and could be used to help encourage engagement in more challenging pro-environmental behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring future water security requires broad community support for changes in policy, practice, and technology, such as those involved in delivering alternative water schemes. Building community support for alternative water sources may involve a suite of engagement activities, ranging from information campaigns, through to grassroots and participatory approaches. There is increasing recognition that ‘social capital’—the degree of social connectedness, trust, and shared values within a community—is important for building support for pro-environmental policies. However, little research has examined how social capital might influence support for alternative water schemes. We surveyed a representative sample of Australian adults (n = 5194). Support for alternative water sources was examined using a series of questions focusing on stormwater harvesting, desalination, and recycled water. Involvement in community organisations (defined as participation or membership) was used as an indicator of social capital. Using a series of mediation analyses, we identified that community involvement is associated with support for alternative water sources, and that this effect is mediated by (i) stronger water-related social norms, (ii) greater water-related knowledge, and (iii) increased recall of water-related information. Our results also suggest that these indirect effects can be conditional upon location, employment status, life satisfaction, and language spoken within the home. These findings highlight the importance of social capital in building engagement in water-related issues, and specifically, building support for alternative water sources. In addition they highlight potential pathways for the association between social capital and support for alternative water sources for different social groups and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We apply cluster analysis to distinguish five groups of blue space users. • Coastal proximity enabled frequent users; distance to coast limited low-users. • Two high use groups report some place-based constraints but high motivations. • Profiles of intensive users suggest role of non-examined factors such as routines. • Low motivation and high personal constraints in non-users may transcend context. Recreational blue space use generates important social benefits, that are supported by proximity to coastal and freshwater spaces. Yet, little research has explored different patterns of blue space use and how this is influenced by subjective perceptions about blue spaces. Here we draw on data from a representative survey of residents of South East Queensland (Australia) (N = 3128) to develop a typology of blue space use and quantify the frequency with which different types of blue spaces are used. We identified five distinct groups of blue space users: three frequent use groups, and two low use groups. Greater proximity to coastal areas which permit diverse types of activities supported all three frequent use groups, while greater distance from the coast limited low use groups. However, subjective perceptions about enablers and constraints also influenced use. For example, frequent exercisers and regular users do report constraints, but these tend to be related to place (suggesting structural constraints), and these groups also report high motivations. Non-users represented 13% of the sample, and reported low motivation, and high intrapersonal constraints such as not-belonging. Our findings suggest that behaviour patterns in and around waterways reflect both perceptions of the environment, and individual-level constraints that may transcend environmental context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nature connection (NC) has associations with wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour. • Nature contact mediates the association between NC and wellbeing, and NC and pro-environmental behaviour. • Compared to pro-environmental behaviour, the mediated proportion by nature contact on wellbeing is relatively higher. • Nature contact in private outdoor spaces have an important role to play in promoting wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours through nature connection. • Policymakers need to consider both nature contact and nature connection if the aim is to promote wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour. Nature connection is positively associated with wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours. However, the mediators of these relationships remain under-explored. This study examines the mediation effects of nature contact on the relationship between nature connection and wellbeing, and between nature connection and pro-environmental behaviours. Two types of nature contact are explored, routine weekly contact with urban nature (public urban nature spaces), and routine weekly time spent in a private, home outdoor area. A cross-sectional survey was administered to adult (≥ 18 years) residents of Brisbane, Australia, in May 2017 (N=1000). Using regression analysis and causal mediation analysis, our study shows that 1) nature connection is positively associated with wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours; 2) nature contact is a mediator of the relationship between nature connection and wellbeing, with weekly private outdoor contact accounting for 15–16% of the positive association, and weekly urban nature contact accounting for 24–31%, and 3) nature contact is a mediator of the relationship between nature connection and pro-environmental behaviour, in the form of conservation volunteering, with weekly private outdoor contact accounting for 10–13% of the positive association and weekly urban nature contact accounting for 14–19%. We conclude that the associations between nature connection and wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours are mediated by nature contact. Urban planners and policymakers should consider opportunities for urban residents to have weekly access to and contact with urban nature, both at home and in urban neighbourhoods, as a way to promote the co-benefits of enhanced wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour through nature connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time this millennium, growth in carbon emissions has slowed. Indeed, the year 2014 was the first time in 40 years that the planet saw zero growth in emissions. We examine whether this message of progress can be effective in motivating people to engage in mitigation efforts. This question dovetails with commentary suggesting that gloomy messages about climate change risk fatiguing the population, and that alternative approaches are necessary. It is also informed by work suggesting that hope is a motivating force in terms of engaging in collective action and social change. Study 1 ( N = 574) showed that negative emotions were strongly related to mitigation motivation and feelings of efficacy, but hope-related emotions had a much weaker relationship with these constructs. In the main experiment (Study 2: N = 431) participants read an optimistic, pessimistic, or neutral message about the rate of progress in reducing global carbon emissions. Relative to the pessimistic message, the optimistic message reduced participants’ sense that climate change represented a risk to them, and the associated feelings of distress. Consequently, the optimistic message was less successful in increasing mitigation motivation than the pessimistic message. In sum, predictions that the optimistic message would increase efficacy did not transpire; concerns that the optimistic message would increase complacency did transpire. Recent progress in curbing global carbon emissions is welcome, but we found no evidence that messages focusing on this progress constitute an effective communication strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotions can greatly influence behavior, yet research on links between incidental emotions and pro-environmental behavior is limited. The present study uses an experience sampling design to examine how pride and guilt relate to daily pro-environmental behavior. Ninety-six university students recorded their engagement in specific pro-environmental behaviors, and their feelings of pride and guilt about these behaviors, at four time points each day for three consecutive days. Results showed that pro-environmental behavior during a 2.5-h time period was positively related to pride, and negatively related to guilt, during that same time period. Pride about environmental behavior was positively related to subsequent engagement in pro-environmental behavior (i.e., during the following 2.5-h time period), but only for people who perceived more positive pro-environmental descriptive norms. Guilt was not related to subsequent pro-environmental behavior. We discuss implications for further research on the complex associations between daily experiences of moral emotions and pro-environmental behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizen engagement in water-related issues is vital for securing future water supplies and protecting waterways. In this paper we explore elements of engagement in water related issues -- what people know, what they value and their actions, and describe how these cohere in ways that can inform planning and interventions. Drawing on a nationally representative survey (N = 5194) and an interdisciplinary conceptual framework, this paper outlines how groups within the population differ on engagement in water-related issues. We identify five key groups: (i) the Disengaged, (ii) Aware but inactive, (iii) Active but not engaged, (iv) Engaged but cautious, and (v) Highly engaged. Homeownership, having a garden, being older, and life experiences such as experience of water restrictions had a significant impact on each of the engagement profiles. The utility of this analysis is demonstrated through finding that the groups have distinct views on two key policy examples, support for raingardens and willingness to pay for waterway protection. We suggest ways of targeting individual and community interventions to reach the identified groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although individuals’ self-reports of behaviour are often used as a proxy for household environmental outcomes, little is known about how accurate they are or what factors might moderate accuracy. The current research investigated this question in relation to household recycling and water use. Results of Study 1 showed a significant, albeit weak, relationship between self-reported household recycling and objective measure of recycling that was not moderated by the number of people in the household. There was some evidence though that the relationship between self-reported and objective household recycling was stronger when respondents perceived more supportive community norms for recycling. The results of Study 2 supported Study 1 in showing a significant but weak relationship between self-reported water conservation behaviour and objective household water use that was again not moderated by the number of people in the house. Similar to Study 1, Study 2 showed that there was a stronger relationship between self-reported and objective behaviour when respondents had more favourable attitudes, more supportive subjective norms, and greater self-efficacy in relation to water conservation. Taken together the research suggests that psychological variables that orient householders to environmental behaviour are more important influences on aligning self-reported behaviour with objective outcomes than knowledge about the behaviour of others in the household. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies reveal that the more efficacious people feel in their ability to combat climate change, the more threatened they feel by it. This positive correlation deserves unpacking, given that classic theories position efficacy beliefs as coping appraisals that help manage threats. First, we tested whether the relationship is an artifact of overlap with a latent variable that is implicated in both threat and efficacy: “green” identity. Second, we tested whether efficacy perceptions are (partly) motivated cognitions designed to ameliorate helplessness in the face of threat. Study 1 ( N = 4345 Australians) replicated the positive correlation between threat and efficacy, and showed that the relationships remained after controlling for green identity. Direct evidence for motivated control was found in Study 2 ( N = 212 Americans): Participants who read a high-threat message reported more (collective) efficacy than did those who read a climate change message that downplayed threat. Implications for theoretical models of control are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has demonstrated a striking difference in climate change beliefs and policy support between people who identify with the right-wing of politics and with the left-wing of politics. But are we destined to continue with this divergence? We suggest that there is movement around these differences based on the politicization of climate change and we conducted two experimental studies with 126 and 646 people, respectively, to examine this effect. We found that those people whose political identity was made salient were less likely to believe in an anthropogenic cause of climate change and less likely to support government climate change policies than those whose identity was not made salient; particularly when those people were aligned with the right-wing of politics. The results demonstrate the importance of the salience of one's political identity in determining attitudes and beliefs even for scientific facts such as climate change. Our research also identifies some ways forward in dealing with climate change-based on depoliticizing the issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Though the success of conservation initiatives relies on changing behaviour, little social psychological research has examined factors such as attitudes and social norms in the context of actual conservation campaigns. In the context of reducing light pollution around sea turtle nesting habitats, researching technological solutions has clear merit. Problems such as light glow are, however, fundamentally about human behaviour, and so finding ways to effect behavioural change is critical. Social norms, or perceptions about what other people think and do, have been widely used in behaviour change campaigns across various domains, including campaigns to promote conservation behaviour. Here, we investigate how the norms of different groups may influence our behaviour in the context of a campaign to alter behavioural norms about light glow pollution in a community. We examine attitudes, social norms, and the degree of conflict (versus congruence) between the behaviours of different groups, and their relationship with intentions to engage in conservation behaviours relevant to sea turtle conservation. We show that attitudes and norms are related to behavioural intentions, and conflicts between social norms influence intentions, over and above the norms themselves. This highlights an important consideration for conservation campaigns utilising social norms-based behaviour change appeals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study incorporated identity constructs into the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to investigate intentions to engage in environmental activism. First year students and participants of a students of sustainability conference (n=169) were administered a questionnaire survey that measured standard TPB constructs as well as environmental group membership and self-identity as an environmental activist. Consistent with predictions, environmental group membership and self-identity were positive predictors of intentions. Thus, greater involvement in environmental groups and a stronger sense of the self as an environmental activist were associated with stronger intentions to engage in environmental activism. There was also evidence that self-identity was a stronger predictor of intentions for participants with low rather than high environmental group membership. In accordance with the standard TPB model, participants with more positive attitudes toward and a greater sense of normative support for environmental activism also had greater intentions to engage in the behaviour. The implications for groups seeking to harness support for activities to protect the environment are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Environmental organizations use a variety of text based communication formats to mobilize supporters to take collective action on their behalf. Yet we know little about the characteristics of collective action communication used by environmental organizations, nor its mobilization potential. In this paper we investigate whether environmental organizations' website communication reflects variables focal to the Social Identity Model of Collective Action that are known to motivate intentions to engage in collective action: identity, negative emotions, and efficacy. We use Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) text analysis software to investigate the extent to which linguistic cues associated with these focal variables are communicated in text obtained from 497 environmental advocacy organizations' websites. Findings demonstrate that environmental groups use identity and efficacy language more than the LIWC comparison text corpus, but show consistently low usage of both negative and positive emotion language. Our analyses also suggest that groups with the greatest financial resources use identity and efficacy language more frequently than groups with fewer financial resources. We suggest that future research investigating the effects of linguistic cues on message receivers is an important next step for both advancing the SIMCA framework as well as assisting environmental organizations' ability to more effectively mobilize supporters through text based communication formats. • Environmental group websites use language that makes identity and efficacy salient. • In contrast to SIMCA they do not use language which make emotions salient. • Groups with more financial resources use identity and efficacy words more in communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The populations most susceptible to environmental degradation are often the populations that rely most on the natural world for sustenance. Within the many isolated islands that are part of rural Indonesia, many communities are dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods, but paradoxically members of these communities often engage in practices that destroy their natural resources. The current research uses survey methodology to investigate determinants of sustainable behavioral intentions of participants (N = 104) living in coastal communities in Sulawesi, Indonesia—specifically through the lens of an adapted theory of planned behavior model. Results showed that participants with stronger intentions to use nets and lines to fish had more negative attitudes to destructive fishing, a greater sense that their behavior and that of their community affects marine life, and greater belief that other villages are responsible for degrading reefs. Participants with stronger intentions to prevent their waste from going into the ocean had more negative attitudes to throwing waste in the ocean, greater perceptions of control over the behavior, and more positive perceptions of change in the health of the reefs. Although some of the findings align with theory and past research, some were unexpected, highlighting the importance of conducting research to identify motivators of sustainable practices in developing world, low resource communities. • An adapted TPB was a significant predictor of behavioral intentions for fishing and waste management. • Perceptions of change, awareness of consequences, and responsibility diffusion were additional predictors. • Understanding models of behavioral intentions can help design effective and sustainable solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]