Kiyo Kurisu

Both Direct and Vicarious Experiences of Nature Affect Children's Willingness to Conserve Biodiversity

Children are becoming less likely to have direct contact with nature. This ongoing loss of human interactions with nature, the extinction of experience, is viewed as one of the most fundamental obstacles to addressing global environmental challenges. However, the consequences for biodiversity conservation have been examined very little. Here, we conducted a questionnaire survey of elementary schoolchildren and investigated effects of the frequency of direct (participating in nature-based activities) and vicarious experiences of nature (reading books or watching TV programs about nature and talking about nature with parents or friends) on their affective attitudes (individuals’ emotional feelings) toward and willingness to conserve biodiversity. A total of 397 children participated in the surveys in Tokyo. Children’s affective attitudes and willingness to conserve biodiversity were positively associated with the frequency of both direct and vicarious experiences of nature. Path analysis showed that effects of direct and vicarious experiences on children’s willingness to conserve biodiversity were mediated by their affective attitudes. This study demonstrates that children who frequently experience nature are likely to develop greater emotional affinity to and support for protecting biodiversity. We suggest that children should be encouraged to experience nature and be provided with various types of these experiences.

Comparison of waste prevention behaviors among three Japanese megacity regions in the context of local measures and socio-demographics

Waste prevention behaviors (WPBs) should be investigated separately from recycling behaviors and analyzed in the context of local policies and measures. Previous studies on WPBs have been mainly conducted in the USA and Europe (mainly in the UK), and studies in Japan have remained very limited to date. Moreover, the effects of socio-demographic factors have been rarely described correctly based on appropriate large sampling. In this study, we conducted an on-line questionnaire survey and obtained 8000 respondents in three megacity regions (Tokyo, Osaka, and Aichi) in Japan. Among these three regions, Osaka respondents showed significantly lower practice rates in nine of 18 WPBs. Particularly in My-bag behavior, the charging of plastic shopping bags strongly affects the practice rate. As shown in the results, local policies and measures affect WPBs. Based on the practice rates, latent four factors were extracted by factor analysis. Multiple regression analysis revealed that gender and age significantly affect WPB factors before local policy effects.

Health Benefits of Urban Allotment Gardening: Improved Physical and Psychological Well-Being and Social Integration

With an ever-increasing urban population, promoting public health and well-being in towns and cities is a major challenge. Previous research has suggested that participating in allotment gardening delivers a wide range of health benefits. However, evidence from quantitative analyses is still scarce. Here, we quantify the effects, if any, of participating in allotment gardening on physical, psychological and social health. A questionnaire survey of 332 people was performed in Tokyo, Japan. We compared five self-reported health outcomes between allotment gardeners and non-gardener controls: perceived general health, subjective health complaints, body mass index (BMI), mental health and social cohesion. Accounting for socio-demographic and lifestyle variables, regression models revealed that allotment gardeners, compared to non-gardeners, reported better perceived general health, subjective health complaints, mental health and social cohesion. BMI did not differ between gardeners and non-gardeners. Neither frequency nor duration of gardening significantly influenced reported health outcomes. Our results highlight that regular gardening on allotment sites is associated with improved physical, psychological and social health. With the recent escalation in the prevalence of chronic diseases, and associated healthcare costs, this study has a major implication for policy, as it suggests that urban allotments have great potential for preventative healthcare.

Development of the compact city index and its application to Japanese cities

This study is an attempt to develop an internationally applicable compact city index that measures the performance of physical urban forms with regard to compact city policies. Based on key characteristics of the compact city that are high density, mixed land-use, and public transport systems, we formulate a new index called ‘compact city index’ (CCI) to assess urban compactness of populations, facilities and amenities centred on public transport systems at both community and city levels. Then sensitivity analyses follow simulating different scenarios varying hypothetical urban forms to check a dominant bias to specific variables in the CCI equation. Finally four types of CCI, in different measurements of time and distance, are applied to 41 middle-sized Japanese cities. It is found that cities can achieve urban compactness in the time aspect by utilisation of well-networked public transport systems, even though physical urban forms of those cities are largely sprawled.

Behavior Model Development for Understanding PEBs

Various models have been proposed to aid understanding of the key factors for PEBs and the relationships between them. This chapter explains some of the more well-known general behavior models that can be applied to PEBs, such as Schwartz’s model and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model first. Then, models specific to PEBs, such as value–belief–norm (VBN) model, motivation–opportunity–ability (MOA) model, and two-phase model, are explained. Besides, since many works have been conducted to investigate the determinants for PEBs, the motivation to compile and assess the preceding works naturally rises. The meta-analyses of preceding works are also shown in this chapter and finally the empirical models which refer to several theories empirically show the relationships involving not only sociopsychological variables but also sometimes sociodemographic variables. The aim of these trials is not to establish a new theory but to show the applicability of previous theories and to understand the influential factors on the target PEB. In the final section, several examples of these trials are shown.

Trials to Foster PEBs

Various interventions to foster PEBs have been proposed by many researchers. In this chapter, those strategies are explained. In Sect. 6.1, the intervention methods, such as commitment, goal setting, introduction of leaders, foot-in-the-door technique, feedback, and incentive/reward, are explained. Other methods enhancing psychological factors (especially norm activation) are explained in Sect. 6.2. In Sect. 6.3, the methods using “information” are explained. Examples of information for enhancing “norms” such as descriptive norm, injunctive norm, and personal norm and for providing “knowledge” such as declarative knowledge, procedural knowledge, and effectiveness can help readers catch the outline. Each intervention method is based on some psychological factors. The relationships are shown in a diagram in Sect. 6.4. Labeling is one of the information provision methodologies and can have some impact on consumers to select products. The details are explained in Sect. 6.5. In Sect. 6.6, the trials using life cycle assessment (LCA) results and life cycle thinking (LCT) concepts are shown. Other programs or campaigns are explained in Sect. 6.7. In the final section (6.8), some ideas and new trials for achieving widespread and lasting influence of fostering PEBs are shown.

How to Survey PEBs

To know the current condition of people’s environmental attitudes and practice rates of PEBs, questionnaire surveys are possible ways to collect data. In this chapter, the basic elements of questionnaire surveys are explained. In the first section (4.1), the ways to prepare the question items are explained. Then, in Sect. 4.2, the scales, especially about the scales for environmental attitudes and personalities, are explained. In this section, you can find various items previously proposed by many studies to measure environmental attitudes. Besides, two personalities which can have some relationships with environmental attitudes, such as “cultural theory” and “locus of control,” are explained and items to measure these personalities are also shown. In Sect. 4.3, the points which you should have in mind when you decide the wording of questions are explained. In Sect. 4.4, various methods of questionnaire surveys, such as interviews and postal surveys, are explained, and the details of online questionnaire are particularly explained. Finally, after getting the data, you need some statistical analyses. In the final section (4.5), the basic data handling ways including statistical analyses are explained.

What Are Pro-Environmental Behaviors (PEBs)?

This chapter provides an overview of pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). There is no catchall definition or way to categorize PEBs; therefore, I propose various definitions and ways to categorize PEBs. Two main definitions for PEBs are shown here: purpose oriented and fact oriented. The relationships between these definitions are clearly shown in a diagram. Based on these definitions, narrowly defined PEBs and other definitions can be understood. In addition, based on various aspects, such as place, actor, influential fields, sub-impacts, household PEBs, and repeatability, the possible lower-level categorizations of PEBs are explained. Finally, I summarize behaviors proposed by various environmental agencies and present a list of 200 PEBs. In the list, the main classification is based on the major targets for reduction, such as greenhouse gases, air pollutants, water pollutants, resource consumption, and disturbance of nature, with 12 categories under the main targets, which are standard in many places. Under each category, subcategories are also shown, which can be modified by users.

Influential Factors on PEBs

In conducting PEBs, some factors can work as barriers while others act as accelerators. This chapter summarizes these barriers and accelerators and also explains the influence of psychological factors on PEBs. In the first section (2.1), various reasons to conduct and not to conduct PEBs are listed, and the relationships between the reasons and influential factors are shown. In the second section (2.2), the psychological factors, such as norm, attitude, affect, and cognitive dissonance, are explained. The influence of other factors, such as cost and benefit and knowledge, is explained in the following sections (2.3 and 2.4). In addition to the influence of sociodemographics, such as gender, age, education, and income, on the PEBs and environmental attitudes (Sect. 2.5), the influence of personality is also shown in Sect. 2.6. In the final section (2.7), the influence of situational factors, such as contextual and institutional factors, is explained.

Application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to Assess Actual Environmental Burdens Driven by PEBs

As discussed in Chap. 1, an accurate evaluation of each behavior’s environmental footprint is not always necessary. However, if we discuss which behavior is more environment friendly, scientific background data can help us. The quantitatively calculated data can be persuasive, especially when we conduct environmental education programs. For that purpose, life cycle assessment (LCA) can be a powerful tool to assess the total environmental footprint derived from a target behavior.