The effects of climate change are being felt globally, resulting in increased extreme weather events and mental health challenges. Climate change concern and anxiety are widespread, especially among young people. Currently, little is known about how these responses to climate change may interact with each other to motivate or hinder different types of environmental action. This paper addresses this gap using two nationally representative surveys conducted in 2022 and 2023 in the UK (ntotal = 2,087). The results show that individuals concerned about climate change were significantly more likely to have climate anxiety and that climate anxiety is subsequently significantly associated with an increased likelihood of engaging in pro-environmental action, including private-sphere behaviours (individual actions relating to diet, transport, household energy, travel, and material consumption) and climate activism (collective actions, including supporting protests and community initiatives). When controlling for the effect of climate anxiety, climate concern was still associated with an increased likelihood of engaging in pro-environmental action, although the effect was smaller. These results suggest that climate anxiety partly explains the effects of climate concern and is an additional driver of climate action. Additionally, the results show that climate anxiety was higher among younger respondents, and that the likelihood of engaging in pro-environmental actions decreases as age increases. However, the effects of climate change concern and anxiety on climate action were consistent across respondents of different ages, with no moderating effects of age. Other factors may be responsible for decreased climate engagement among older age groups demonstrated in past literature.

Traffic restrictions and the construction of cycling infrastructure are effective strategies to reduce private car use and promote active travel in urban areas. However, implementing these measures often involves reallocating existing street space, which can lead to public resistance. This study employed a Best-Worst-Scaling (BWS) profile case approach to examine preferences for different types of street space reallocation to encourage cycling and to explore how these preferences are influenced by psychological factors such as driver and cyclist identities, perceived infringement on freedom, and place attachment. A Britain-based sample of participants (N = 509) evaluated images depicting various configurations of bike lanes, traffic restrictions, and cycle parking, where road or pedestrian space was reallocated to accommodate cycling infrastructure. Participants identified the most and least preferred features of these designs. The findings indicate broad public support for cycling infrastructure and traffic restrictions, although preferences varied significantly across street layouts. Participants particularly opposed the removal of car parking and showed a strong preference for reallocating road space rather than pedestrian space. Both cyclists and drivers favoured segregated cycling infrastructure over painted bike lanes on roads. While place attachment had limited impact on preferences, perceptions of cycling infrastructure as infringing on individual freedom emerged as a significant factor shaping space reallocation preferences. These findings offer insights for policymakers and urban planners, highlighting design strategies that may be more publicly acceptable and identifying areas where resistance to urban redesigns is likely to emerge.

Indoor air pollution poses significant health risks, disproportionately affecting deprived communities that often face higher levels of exposure. This study, conducted as part of the WellHome project, employed a longitudinal design and a participatory research approach, directly involving 110 residents of a deprived urban area in West London in indoor air quality research. It tested an adapted Health Belief Model (HBM) tailored to indoor air quality behaviours, to examine how perceived vulnerability, perceived severity, self-efficacy, perceptions of indoor and outdoor air quality, and contextual cues to action relate to behavioural changes aimed at improving indoor air quality. It also assessed whether these factors predicted behaviour change over time, and explored patterns across various household behaviours, such as cooking, cleaning, heating, smoking, personal care, home fragrance use, window opening, and air purifier use. Results show that self-efficacy, perceived severity, perceptions of indoor and outdoor air quality, and cues to action were significantly associated with behaviour change, while perceived vulnerability was not. Notably, the influence of self-efficacy on behaviour increased over time, underscoring its role in sustaining long-term change. Visible cues, such as mould and damp, emerged as strong contextual triggers for action. Among the behaviours assessed, changes were most frequently reported in window opening, cooking, and cleaning, although a clear increase in change over time was only observed for cooking and heating. These findings suggest that a participatory approach can be effective in promoting healthier indoor environments in vulnerable communities.

Abstract Objectives Concerns about COVID-19 were a key driver of infection-prevention behaviour during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth longitudinal understanding of the type and frequency of concerns experienced throughout the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design Content analysis of qualitative descriptions provided in a prospective longitudinal online survey as part of the COVID-19 UK Public Experiences (COPE) Study. Method At baseline (March/April 2020), when the UK entered its first national lockdown, 11,113 adults completed the COPE survey. Follow-up surveys were conducted at 3, 12, 18 and 24 months. Participants were recruited via the HealthWise Wales research registry and social media. Baseline surveys collected demographic and health data, and all waves included an open-ended question about COVID-19 concerns. Content analysis was used to identify the type and frequency of concerns at each time point. Results A total of 41,564 open-text responses were coded into six categories: personal harm (n=16,353), harm to others (n=11,464), social/economic impact (n=6,433), preventing transmission (n=4,843), government/media (n=1,048), and general concerns (n=1,423). The proportion of respondents reporting any concern declined from 75.3% at baseline to 65.8% at 24 months. Over time, concerns about personal harm increased (baseline 41.8% vs. 24-months 52.7%) whereas concerns about harm to others decreased (baseline 48.5% vs. 24-months 28.6%). Concerns about harm were also expressed in relation to clinical vulnerability, lack of trust in government/media, and perceived lack of adherence by others. These were balanced against concerns about wider social and economic impacts of restrictions. Conclusions Public concerns about COVID-19 evolved substantially over the first two years of the pandemic, reflecting changing perceptions of risk and responsibility. Monitoring concerns longitudinally is vital to help guide effective communication and behavioural interventions during future pandemics.

How should well-being be prioritised in society, and what trade-offs are people willing to make between fairness and personal well-being? We investigate these questions using a stated preference experiment with a nationally quasi-representative UK sample (n = 300), in which participants evaluated life satisfaction outcomes for both themselves and others under conditions of uncertainty. Individual-level utility functions were estimated using an Expected Utility Maximisation (EUM) framework and tested for sensitivity to the overweighting of small probabilities, as characterised by Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT). A majority of participants displayed concave (risk-averse) utility curves and showed stronger aversion to inequality in societal life satisfaction outcomes than to personal risk. These preferences were unrelated to political alignment, suggesting a shared normative stance on fairness in well-being that cuts across ideological boundaries. The results challenge use of average life satisfaction as a policy metric and support the development of nonlinear utility-based alternatives that more accurately reflect collective human values. Implications for public policy and well-being measurement are discussed.

Time in nature has well-documented benefits for children's health, wellbeing, and cognitive and social development. Schools have the potential to offer equitable access to nature through outdoor learning, yet the roles of teachers in facilitating outdoor learning remains under-researched. This research used a sequential mixedmethods approach to develop and validate the School Contexts of Outdoor Learning (SCOOL) scale, based on an ecological model of outdoor learning. The SCOOL aims to capture enablers and barriers to outdoor learning at three levels: the individual teacher, the school environment, and national educational context. The scale development process followed the steps outlined by DeVellis and Thorpe (2021) and involved five consecutive studies. In-depth interviews with teachers (n = 25) participating in a nature connection programme were used to define key constructs (Study 1). This was followed by a short online survey with teachers (n = 125) to support item generation (Study 2i), cognitive interviews with ten teachers to test item clarity and comprehension (Study 2ii), and a review by an expert panel (n = 8) comprising academics, practitioners and third-sector representatives (Study 2iii). A final national survey with teachers across the UK (n = 516) was used to confirm the scale structure and assess its reliability and validity (Study 3). The findings demonstrate that SCOOL is a valid and reliable instrument with practical utility for evaluating and supporting outdoor learning in schools.

While sustainable transport initiatives generally enjoy broad public support, new cycle lanes and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) often face strong opposition from local campaign groups, particularly on social media. This study examined public sentiment towards these measures and how it evolved in response to the UK Government's Emergency Active Travel Fund, using social media data from Twitter (now "X"). A total of 36,696 UKbased tweets related to cycle lanes and LTNs were analysed over a four-year period, spanning two years before and two years after the fund's announcement in May 2020 (1 March 2018 to 30 June 2022). Sentiment analysis revealed that while most tweets were positive, negative sentiment increased after the fund was announced. Structural Topic Modelling (STM) identified 13 key discussion topics, including cycle lane design, road user behaviour, and experiences using cycling infrastructure. Notably, discussions rarely addressed broader benefits of active travel, such as climate change mitigation or public health improvements. The findings indicate that new cycling infrastructure is generally well-received, but that public sentiment fluctuates over time. Criticism tends to focus on poorly designed or unsafe infrastructure and concerns around their implementation. This research demonstrates the value of social media analysis to understand the content and dynamics of public opinion on transport infrastructure changes, as well as the use of sentiment analysis and STM in analysing large text datasets.

This study examined teachers' perspectives on how children benefit from time in nature, how disadvantage shapes access and the role of schools in facilitating such access. Drawing on interviews conducted in 2022 with 25 UK primary school teachers who participated in Generation Wild, a nature connection programme for schools in economically disadvantaged areas, the research explored how outdoor learning might support children's wellbeing and recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study identified four themes using reflexive thematic analysis: (1) nature's positive impact on children's wellbeing and behaviour; (2) disadvantage as a persistent barrier to access to nature; (3) nature's role in supporting post-pandemic recovery; and (4) systemic constraints on outdoor teaching. Teachers described natural environments as 'a completely different space' for children, offering calm, freedom and emotional expression, and consider this particularly valuable for those most affected by the impacts of the pandemic. However, they expressed frustration at their limited ability to incorporate outdoor learning in the curriculum, despite recognition of its benefits. Many linked the pandemic to widening inequalities in access to nature and called for more sustained, supported engagement. The results highlight a disconnect between teacher values and educational structures and call for systemic change to prioritise nature-based teaching and learning.

This study examined teachers' perspectives on how children benefit from time in nature, how disadvantage shapes access and the role of schools in facilitating such access. Drawing on interviews conducted in 2022 with 25 UK primary school teachers who participated in Generation Wild, a nature connection programme for schools in economically disadvantaged areas, the research explored how outdoor learning might support children's wellbeing and recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study identified four themes using reflexive thematic analysis: (1) nature's positive impact on children's wellbeing and behaviour; (2) disadvantage as a persistent barrier to access to nature; (3) nature's role in supporting post-pandemic recovery; and (4) systemic constraints on outdoor teaching. Teachers described natural environments as ‘a completely different space’ for children, offering calm, freedom and emotional expression, and consider this particularly valuable for those most affected by the impacts of the pandemic. However, they expressed frustration at their limited ability to incorporate outdoor learning in the curriculum, despite recognition of its benefits. Many linked the pandemic to widening inequalities in access to nature and called for more sustained, supported engagement. The results highlight a disconnect between teacher values and educational structures and call for systemic change to prioritise nature-based teaching and learning.

OBJECTIVES:To investigate the relationship between motivation and COVID-19 infection-prevention behaviour during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN:Prospective longitudinal online survey in a UK community-based cohort. METHODS:During March/April 2020, n = 11,113 people, recruited via the HealthWise Wales research registry and social media advertising, completed the COVID-19 Public Experiences (COPE) study baseline survey, with follow-up at 3, 12, 18 and 24 months. Online questionnaires assessed COVID-19 infection-prevention behaviour, perceived susceptibility, fear, personal control over infection transmission and reliability of information from media and government. Repeated-measures ANOVA identified changes in motivation and behaviour over time. Multivariable regression models at each time point assessed associations between motivation and behaviour. RESULTS:COVID-19 infection-prevention behaviour and motivational variables (fear of COVID-19, perceived susceptibility and perceived control) fluctuated over time as the disease and socio-political environment changed, decreasing overall by 24 months. Regression models for association between motivational variables and COVID-19 infection-prevention behaviour were statistically significant at three (F(10, 5981) = 76.69, p < .001, adjusted R2 .112), 12 (F(11, 3732) = 48.40, p < .001, adjusted R2 .122), 18 (F(11, 3665) = 108.34, p < .001, adjusted R2 .243) and 24 months (F(11, 3355) = 136.20, p < .001, adjusted R2 .306). Higher levels of fear, older age, lower perceived personal control over infection transmission, more trust in government and less trust in social media were associated with more infection-prevention behaviour. CONCLUSIONS:Motivation to engage in infection-prevention behaviour during a pandemic is multi-factorial and dynamic. Beliefs about infection and trust in government and media need to be considered in developing effective communication strategies.

Outdoor learning enhances children’s academic performance, social communication, and well-being. Accessible and inclusive opportunities for outdoor learning are essential for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to experience these benefits. This case study applied the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to evaluate the accessibility and inclusivity of outdoor learning programmes. The study involved qualitative interviews with expert outdoor learning staff at three WWT wetland centres in the UK. Reflexive thematic analysis identified four themes: resources and adaptations, communication with schools, staff approach to inclusion, and balancing needs. The findings highlight factors that shape the accessibility and inclusivity of outdoor learning provision for children with SEND. The study demonstrates how UDL can inform inclusive and proactive approaches to outdoor education, offering a model for organisations seeking to enhance the accessibility of their outdoor learning programmes. We conclude with recommendations for practitioners to support belonging for all children.

The relationship between indoor air quality and public health remains under-researched. WellHome is a transdisciplinary community-based study that will engage with residents to co-design feasible and acceptable research to quantify air pollution exposure in 100 homes in West London and examine its potential to exacerbate asthma symptoms in children. Sampling strategies such as using air quality monitors and passive samplers placed in kitchens, children’s bedrooms, and living rooms, will be developed in collaboration with local ambassadors and participating households to measure multiple physical, chemical, microplastic, and biological contaminants. This will provide a comprehensive understanding of indoor air quality across the city’s socio-economic gradient. Other data collected will include housing types and tenure, ventilation practices, occupant behaviours, time-activity, and airway symptoms. Epidemiological analysis will examine air pollution exposure impacts on children’s respiratory health. The particulate mixture’s relative hazard will be evaluated in toxicity studies based on source profiles and activity patterns of participants, focusing on asthma exacerbation related pathways. The study’s findings will be communicated to participants through co-designed reports and inform evidence-based recommendations for reducing indoor air pollution in London and urban areas worldwide. By raising awareness and providing actionable insights, WellHome seeks to contribute to global efforts to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable communities.

While environmental education programmes have been shown to be effective in increasing knowledge and pro-environmental behaviour, it is not clear what characteristics of the intervention contribute to these outcomes. Detailed evaluations are needed to assess intermediary outcomes of such programmes to clarify the pathways to change. In this study, primary school children were asked to take photos while participating in a nature connection programme and later interviewed about those photos (N = 14). This photo-elicitation method explored which parts of the programme drew their situational interest, how they connected to nature, and how they felt while participating. Results indicated that the participating children were most interested in animals and connected to nature in a variety of ways, with emotional and sensory experiences being most important. Children mostly experienced positive emotions during programme participation. These results can inform the design of environmental education programmes to more effectively foster children's interest and nature connection.

This study delves into the enduring influence of egocentric bias within negotiation contexts despite fair settings. We investigate how individuals navigate the interplay between egocentric bias, justice mechanisms (i.e., procedural and retributive justice), and their impact on zero-sum thinking. Across three studies encompassing 947 participants from Japan and the UK, we explored these dynamics through simulated negotiation scenarios like car-trade deals and international environmental negotiations. Our findings reveal a robust egocentric bias, dominating judgments even when justice mechanisms are introduced. Negotiators tend to view personal gains as independent of losses incurred by others, hindering collaborative outcomes. Procedural fairness demonstrates a moderating effect, fostering perceptions of fairness and reducing zero-sum thinking in specific scenarios (car-trade). However, its influence diminishes in complex international contexts. Interestingly, retributive justice, intended to discourage non-cooperative behavior, backfires by intensifying punitive sentiments. Thus, it might have a non-desirable effect in some situations. This research offers valuable insights for academics and practitioners alike. It underscores the pervasiveness of egocentric bias in zero-sum thinking despite the presence of justice mechanisms. By highlighting these dynamics, the study paves the way for developing more effective negotiation strategies that promote cooperation and foster successful conflict resolution in real-world settings.

Major changes to how people travel are needed to address climate change, given that transport substantially contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions. Modal shift to low-carbon travel options is a key strategy for reducing emissions in the sector, with private car use particularly challenging given its central position in transport planning and wider culture and society. Trials can help to build an understanding of the practicalities of reducing car use and how people would respond to such a change, as well as contributing to advocacy efforts for lower-carbon transport options. This study focuses on a car free living trial that took place across four cities in England in 2022 (Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London). Seventeen in-depth interviews were conducted with ten regular car users from different circumstances who stopped using their car for three weeks, to explore their experiences of living car free. While driving had been habitual for most participants, going car free disrupted their routines and participants’ positive experiences raised their capacity to become less reliant on their cars. Family and social networks were important as influences on participants themselves and for changing the attitudes and practices of people close to them. At the same time, a lack of travel infrastructure and services impeded car free travel, with negative experiences reaffirming some people’s perceived convenience of car use.

Individual behavior change is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. Over the past two decades, significant attention has been given to specific instances when people's habits and routines may be more amenable to change. These instances are referred to as “moments of change” (MoCs). The recent and rapid increase in research in this area warrants a systematic review. We draw on evidence from 130 articles, identified through Scopus and Web of Science, examining the effects of biographical (e.g., relocation) and exogenous (e.g., financial crises) life events on climate change mitigation behaviors (e.g., mobility). Most of the research is focused on the Global North (e.g., UK, USA, and Germany), and comparability is limited due to the use of different methodologies. The results regarding low-carbon behavior change during MoCs are mixed. When behavior change does occur, it is often influenced by contextual (e.g., physical infrastructure), demographic, social, and economic factors. The literature tends to focus more on biographical MoCs (particularly relocation) than exogenous MoCs, and on consumption behaviors (particularly mobility), rather than on social or political behaviors (e.g., activism). Few studies explicitly test theories or models; those that do primarily concentrate on the habit discontinuity hypothesis. Future research could focus on investigating more granular details of MoCs (e.g., habits, planning, and timing) and how interventions might be better targeted to leverage MoCs. This review highlights the importance of considering not only how to foster low-carbon behavior change but also when to do so. This article is categorized under:

Ambitious climate policies designed to reduce carbon emissions through behaviour change require public consent for their successful implementation, which is dependent on their design and the way they are appraised. The current study, involving a large UK-based sample (n = 2002), brings together research on policy attributes, policy-specific appraisals, and second-order beliefs to examine how they can help explain support for different types of climate policies. The results show that restrictive 'push' measures are supported far less than non-coercive 'pull' measures; financial measures are less popular than regulatory measures; and measures aimed at changing dietary behaviours are supported less than those aimed at energy and travel behaviours. It further finds that perceived effectiveness, perceived fairness and perceived levels of public policy support ('second-order beliefs') follow similar patterns and can explain support for the different climate policies. The study shows that both policy-specific appraisals and second-order beliefs mediate differences in support for the different types of climate policies. Furthermore, while support for the different climate policies is systematically underestimated by 18% and opposition systematically overestimated by 16% on average, the magnitude of pluralistic ignorance is smaller for push measures than for pull measures. The smaller perception gap for the less popular restrictive measures may limit the effectiveness of informational norm interventions in increasing public acceptance of these policies.

IntroductionGender differences have been identified in both the engagement in and the determinants of sustainable diet behaviours. However, as engagement in pro-environmental behaviours varies across countries, the consistency of gender differences could follow similar patterns. Understanding the factors underlying gender and country differences in diet intentions is important for determining how to promote sustainable diets in different populations.MethodsUsing survey data from the UK, China, Sweden and Brazil (N=4,569), this paper examines the influence of subjective norms, diet-related identity, perceived status of meat consumption, environmental identity and environmental concern on sustainable diet intentions. Multigroup analysis was used to explore gender and country differences in the influence of these variables, and whether gender differences were consistent across the four countries.ResultsThe findings show that there are gender differences in the influence of diet-related identity and perceived status of meat consumption, as well as cross-country differences in all factors except subjective norms. Holding a strong diet-related meat identity negatively affected sustainable diet intentions in all groups. Crucially, however, gender differences are not consistent across countries.DiscussionThese results suggest that individuals’ intentions to engage in sustainable diet behaviours are influenced by nationally unique gender associations.

There is a growing literature on meat consumption and reduced meat diets, given the negative impacts of meat on the environment. However, much of the literature has focussed on global North countries, limiting cross-cultural generalisability and overlooking the role of cultural differences in motivating food choices. The present paper provides a cross-cultural comparison of the motivations for meat consumption and vegetarianism in Brazil and the United Kingdom. This was done by conducting a total of 63 semi-structured interviews with meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans in Brazil (n = 41) and the UK (n = 22). The data was analysed thematically and the findings were compared across the participant samples. The findings showed that meat consumption was similarly motivated and justified in each country through the 4 N’s of justification for meat consumption. However, participants’ experiences of reducing meat consumption varied between the two countries, influenced by distinct motivations, aversions, and constraints. In the UK, price served as a motivation for choosing meatless meals, whereas in Brazil it acted as a constraint to reducing meat consumption. Additionally, in the UK, disgust was identified as a significant aversion particularly towards eating parts of meat that visibly resembled the animal of origin — a sentiment not observed in the Brazilian sample. Lastly, while environmental concerns were not a primary reason for adopting a plant-based diet in either country, they often became a significant motivator for maintaining it after dietary change.