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Wildlife management can generate social conflict when stakeholder perceptions of the target species are not considered. Introduced Ring-necked Parakeets (RNP) are established in the UK and have been added to the 'general licence' of birds that can be killed to prevent serious economic damage. We aimed to better understand perceptions of RNPs on a nationwide scale to inform mitigation actions for potential future conflict over RNP management. We surveyed 3,947 UK residents to understand awareness of, knowledge of and attitudes towards the RNP across the UK. We found that most respondents (90.2%) were aware of the RNP. Almost half of respondents (45.9%) held negative opinions, particularly against the RNP in rural areas (64.7%), suggesting landscape contexts influence attitudes. Respondent preference for the RNP was low in local neighbourhoods (7.80%) although the species was considered aesthetically pleasing by most (83.0%). Many respondents knew the species' name (54.9%), but underestimated current population numbers in the UK (82.6%) and few knew its full native range (10.0%). We identified respondents' ecological interest, age, education, preference for, awareness of and knowledge of the RNP as significant factors associated with perceptions. Our findings suggest that the RNP presents a complex socio-environmental challenge, with respondent awareness, knowledge and attitudes each forming an important component of perceptions towards this species. We recommend that wildlife managers utilise our findings and cohesive approach to enhance future RNP perception research in the UK and abroad and towards the success of any proposed management initiatives under the UK general licence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rewilding is an increasingly common conservation approach, aiming to restore ecosystem processes and minimise human intervention. Rewilding has the potential to profoundly change landscapes and people–nature relations. These issues prompt an ongoing debate about how and if rewilding should be done.Farmers are key stakeholders in this debate; they stand to be both affected by and influence the trajectory of rewilding initiatives developing in the United Kingdom and globally. Despite this, a comprehensive understanding of farmers' perceptions towards rewilding is lacking.Here, we focus on how members of the farming community in England perceive common rewilding scenarios (beaver release, farm‐level rewilding and landscape‐scale rewilding), and how these perceptions shape farmers' attitudinal support for rewilding practices.Using thematic analysis of semi‐structured interviews with 36 farmers and farming representatives, we show that the diversity of famers' attitudes can be understood through the prism of perceptions on five core issues: (a) the perceived need for restoration action, (b) the ecological effectiveness of rewilding, (c) rewilding's compatibility with ensuring food security, (d) rewilding's compatibility with rural lifestyles, livelihoods and economies and (e) multidimensional justice of rewilding initiatives. These issues are rooted in collective farming values, and farmers' perceptions of these issues are influenced by mental models, perceived social impacts and perceived ecological outcomes of rewilding initiatives. Diverse perceptions result in a range of attitudes, from enthusiastic support to strong opposition to different rewilding practices.We argue that the scope to increase support for rewilding varies depending on the type of underlying negative perceptions. Where the negative perceptions are based on objectively verifiable causal beliefs (mental models), opponents' minds may be changed through the provision of positive experiences, social learning, and adhering to good governance principles. However, where negative perceptions are based on values, for example, a preference for traditional rural landscapes, they are unlikely to change easily. Pursuing rewilding ambitions that clash with the values of local farmers may risk social conflicts, but accommodating these values too much may compromise rewilding's own goals. Rewilding initiatives will need dialogue and social engagement to navigate their path around this tension. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The automotive industry is one of the most significant and increasing sources of pollution worldwide. Previous studies examining its impacts focus on the post-1950 era as data available before this period is scarce. This study carefully reconstructs six datasets from the early 20th century to 2019 for the UK: annual number of motor cars, road lengths, road fatalities, NOx and CO emissions, and fuel consumption. Interpolation was prudently used to fill gaps in the data sets. Results highlight changing health, social and environmental effects throughout the growth of the automotive sector. Ratios of fatalities to cars indicate social ingraining of the car and rapid response to legislation. Significant emissions resulted from the early industry. Successful remediation of emissions occurred in the late 20th century. All variables studied were interrelated, but expansion of road networks particularly contributed to a range of both positive and (unintended) negative consequences. World War 2 appears to have been a landmark for the automotive industry, producing capacity for mass production, personal mobility and research and therefore a struggle between impacts and social policies. We have demonstrated that technological developments and regulatory interventions relating to the motor industry, alongside events that have catalysed societal change, have been crucial in terms of subsequently providing benefits to society whilst also acting to mitigate (but not prevent) the adverse and frequently devastating impacts of motor vehicles on human health and the environment. A periodic, regular, overarching, independent review (~ every 5 years) of the collective positive and negative impacts of the motor vehicle industry and appropriate interventions are essential to maintain and improve social benefits and public and environmental health, as well as supporting delivery of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and beyond., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Sustainable concerns appear increasingly prevalent to almost all scopes of industry, with society also becoming progressively aware and active towards the importance of sustainability. Housing is often identified as a core contributor to the UK energy concerns, with 27% of the country's C02 emissions produced through the burning fossil fuels with the home (Edwards & Hyett: 2002; DECC:2009). The built environment commonly presents sustainability from a technological construct, whereby research organisations keenly promotes technologies that address sustainable proficiency (Smith: 2003) and governmental guidance has focused designers and engineers to implement sustainable technologies, as a means of technical measurement. Whilst techno-rational constructs within sustainable architecture have thus provided a 'how it works' or 'can do' approach, this limits the social consideration (Roy & Herring:2007). However sociological perspectives see social factors as central to sustainability and in losing sight of this, many technical oriented built environments have been significantly less efficient than predicted (Chappells & Shove:2000). Drawing from various multi-disciplinary perspectives, this paper examines the literature which has begun to address this issue. Discussions will further highlight how this social context can impact on our perception of efficiency, through two specific case-studies. These findings will review users' actual experiences of living in existing sustainable housing; in terms of acceptance and adoption of sustainable practice. By providing a specific focus on domestic housing, this paper looks to highlight the importance of the social beyond being technically efficient, and calls for a more widespread consideration of social elements; user interactions, comfort, acceptance and adoption of technology. Whilst the focus may appear specific, there is strong correlation to the wider understanding of technologies that are considered in and for society, opening up the sustainability debate to a more rounded perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an advance notice of a new research programme, supported by Britain's Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), investigating the restructuring of practices and institutions in the digital age. The call for applications is planned for November 2001; first projects are expected to commence in October 2002. The ESRC is currently preparing the recruitment of a Programme Director.Further information on the process will be published in due course and will be available on the ESRC's website at: http:/ /www.esrc.ac.uk/E-Society.htm. Below is the text of the proposal on the basis of which the ESRC decided to fund a research programme in this area. This proposal was developed through a consultancy led by Professor William H. Dutton. Please note that there might be changes to the programme outline once the Programme Director is appointed. Contact: Angelika Hamilton, angelika.hamilton@esrc.ac.uk, with any comments or recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explains how careful attention to straight-forward design features can make travel safer and reduce levels of crime. It draws conclusions from national initiatives introduced in UK railway and bus systems. A checklist of good practice is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]