International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Research

19 pages, 708 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Sustainable Development Literacy among Engineering Undergraduates in China: Based on the College Impact Model

by Shuyu Qi, Danning Huang, Qiutong Ma and Mi Zhou

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1249; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021249 - 10 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1712

Abstract

Achieving carbon neutrality is a major strategy to combat climate change and achieve sustainable development. Training engineering undergraduates with sustainable development literacy is an important way to achieve this goal in the field of higher education. Based on the college impact model, this [...] Read more.

Achieving carbon neutrality is a major strategy to combat climate change and achieve sustainable development. Training engineering undergraduates with sustainable development literacy is an important way to achieve this goal in the field of higher education. Based on the college impact model, this research surveyed 1070 engineering undergraduates in Chinese universities to explore the influence of institutional support on undergraduates’ sustainable development literacy, and the empirical analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling. The results showed that institutional support positively and significantly influenced the sustainability development literacy of engineering undergraduates, and student engagement had a mediating role in the relationship between institutional support and sustainability development literacy. Relevant recommendations for cultivating engineering undergraduates with high-level sustainability development literacy are proposed here. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Carbon Neutrality: Behavior and Policy)

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20 pages, 955 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Domestic Waste Classification Behavior and Its Deviation from Willingness: Evidence from a Random Household Survey in Beijing

by Ben Ma and Yixuan Jiang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14718; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214718 - 09 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1244

Abstract

To realize widespread domestic waste classification (DWC), deviation between residents’ waste classification willingness (WCW) and waste classification behavior (WCB) needs to be reduced. Based on an extended framework of the theory of planned behavior, this study investigates residents’ WCW, WCB and their deviation [...] Read more.

To realize widespread domestic waste classification (DWC), deviation between residents’ waste classification willingness (WCW) and waste classification behavior (WCB) needs to be reduced. Based on an extended framework of the theory of planned behavior, this study investigates residents’ WCW, WCB and their deviation through a random face-to-face survey of 632 households in Beijing. By employing the ordered logit model, determinants have been empirically revealed. We find that there is a deviation between WCW and WCB. 54.3% of respondents reported a higher degree of WCW than that of WCB. The deviation is determined by specific external conditions, including attitudes and norms associated with other subjects that are not authoritative regulators, and the implementation of various policy instruments for DWC. The higher the satisfaction with the services of property enterprises, the higher the deviation is. The positive WCB of peers in communities failed to create positive subjective norms, but instead exacerbated free-rider phenomenon by inducing their negative WCB. Flat-rate charge, publicity measures and the effectiveness of DWC within community can significantly reduce the deviation. On this basis, policy suggestions are put forward to further reduce the deviation and improve the rate of DWC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Carbon Neutrality: Behavior and Policy)

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18 pages, 1546 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the Green Credit Policy on the Short-Term and Long-Term Debt Financing of Heavily Polluting Enterprises: Based on PSM-DID Method

by Yan Yang and Yingli Zhang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11287; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811287 - 08 Sep 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2616

Abstract

“Green economy and sustainable development” has become the focus of contemporary world economic development. As an important part of green financial instruments, green credit has become a hot topic. This paper investigates whether the Green Credit Policy has had any impact. Does it [...] Read more.

“Green economy and sustainable development” has become the focus of contemporary world economic development. As an important part of green financial instruments, green credit has become a hot topic. This paper investigates whether the Green Credit Policy has had any impact. Does it have a binding effect on the debt financing of heavily polluting enterprises? Using the Green Credit Guidelines as the starting point for the implementation of the Green Credit Policy, this paper takes Chinese A-share listed enterprises from 2004 to 2020 as the research sample, and applies the propensity score matching combined with difference-in-difference (PSM-DID) method to analyze the impact of green credit policies on the long- and short-term financing scale of heavily polluting enterprises. The study found that the implementation of the Green Credit Policy significantly suppressed the long-term financing of heavily polluting enterprises, but allowed for the expansion of short-term financing for heavily polluting enterprises. Compared with the state-owned enterprises, the Green Credit Policy has a more significant impact on non-state-owned enterprises in terms of suppressing long-term financing and increasing short-term financing, suggesting that the Green Credit Policy is affected by the “credit discrimination” of non-state-owned enterprises. Therefore, the Green Credit Policy still needs to be improved. This study provides empirical evidence of the effectiveness of green credit policies in China, and offers suggestions for further green credit policies in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Carbon Neutrality: Behavior and Policy)

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18 pages, 396 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Financial Measures to Reduce Carbon Emissions in Britain, Japan and the United States: A SWOT Analysis

by Sheng Hu, Pan Zhang and Taoyuan Wei

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10771; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710771 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3753

Abstract

To mitigate global warming, China, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, has set the goals of achieving carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, and financial measures could play an important role. To avoid unnecessary costs, China could learn from the [...] Read more.

To mitigate global warming, China, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, has set the goals of achieving carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, and financial measures could play an important role. To avoid unnecessary costs, China could learn from the experience of other countries to better understand the potential role of financial measures in achieving carbon emission reduction goals. Hence, this article adopts a SWOT analysis to compare the financial measures taken by Britain, Japan and the United States in the process of carbon emission reduction in the last twenty years. This article finds that government funds and financial innovation have contributed markedly to carbon emission reduction in those three countries. With the help of the SWOT analysis, we recommend that China take financial measures to help achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals from four aspects: formulating proper policy, regulating carbon trading market, strengthening international cooperation, and promoting innovation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Carbon Neutrality: Behavior and Policy)

17 pages, 1945 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Can China and the Belt and Road Initiative Countries Work Together Responding to Climate Change: A Perspective on Carbon Emissions and Economic Spillover Effects

by Yanmei Li and Xiushan Bai

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9553; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159553 - 03 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2107

Abstract

China attaches great importance to international cooperation on climate change, especially working with the Belt and Road Initiative relevant partners. From a perspective on carbon emissions and economic spillover effects, this study explores how China and the Belt and Road Initiative countries can [...] Read more.

China attaches great importance to international cooperation on climate change, especially working with the Belt and Road Initiative relevant partners. From a perspective on carbon emissions and economic spillover effects, this study explores how China and the Belt and Road Initiative countries can work together to cope with climate change. It applies a three-region spillover effects model, based on the multi-regional input-output table and satellite extensions data of the Eora database, to examine mutual carbon emissions and economic spillover effects between China and the Belt and Road Initiative countries. The results show that: (1) Mutual carbon emissions spillover effects exist between China and the BRI countries, which is an important premise for them to cooperate responding to climate change. (2) There are great differences in carbon emission spillover effects among different sectors. Thus, optimizing the trade structure can bring benefits to carbon reduction for both sides. (3) The sectoral order of carbon emissions spillover effects, and economic spillover effects, is not consistent. In order to achieve an economic and environmental win-win, it is necessary to increase bilateral trade in those sectors with large economic spillover effects, and reduce other sectors with large carbon emissions spillover effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Carbon Neutrality: Behavior and Policy)

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18 pages, 1827 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effectiveness and Trade-Offs of Renewable Energy Policies in Achieving the Dual Decarbonization Goals in China: A Dynamic Computable General Equilibrium Analysis

by Wei Wei, Ling He, Xiaofan Li, Qi Cui and Hao Chen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6386; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116386 - 24 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1985

Abstract

China’s government has enforced a series of renewable energy policies to promote renewable energy development and achieve the dual decarbonization goals. However, there exists great disparity in previous studies on the effectiveness and suitability of renewable energy policies in abating carbon emissions. This [...] Read more.

China’s government has enforced a series of renewable energy policies to promote renewable energy development and achieve the dual decarbonization goals. However, there exists great disparity in previous studies on the effectiveness and suitability of renewable energy policies in abating carbon emissions. This study employs a dynamic general equilibrium model and assesses the effectiveness and trade-offs of renewable energy policies in achieving the dual decarbonization goals by 2060 in China. These policies include carbon market (CRP), the reduction of feed-in tariffs (FIT), the reduction of fossil fuel subsidies (FSB), the reduction of renewable energy costs (REC), resource taxes (RTX), and renewable portfolio standards (REP) as well as the mix of these policies. We find that renewable energy policies together could abate China’s CO₂ emissions in 2060 by 2.57 billion tons, but their effectiveness is very different. The REC would have the greatest effectiveness in abating CO₂ emissions, followed by REP and CRP. Renewable energy policies would cause relatively slight damage to China’s GDP, with the exception of the REC (raising GDP by 1.1713%). Regarding trade-offs, most policies will sacrifice China’s internal and external demand but benefit employment. Renewable energy policies will effectively promote the low-carbon transformation of China’s energy structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Carbon Neutrality: Behavior and Policy)

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15 pages, 1341 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determinants of Proactive Low-Carbon Consumption Behaviors: Insights from Urban Residents in Eastern China

by Xiu Cheng, Jiameng Yang, Yumei Jiang, Wenbin Liu and Yang Zhang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6307; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106307 - 23 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1930

Abstract

Proactive low-carbon consumption behaviors (PLCBs) are crucial to achieving carbon neutrality and identifying motivations for PLCBs is indispensable to changing individual consumption patterns. This study establishes a model by incorporating individual–group-level factors with psychological empowerment perception. The ordinary least-squares regression model [...] Read more.

Proactive low-carbon consumption behaviors (PLCBs) are crucial to achieving carbon neutrality and identifying motivations for PLCBs is indispensable to changing individual consumption patterns. This study establishes a model by incorporating individual–group-level factors with psychological empowerment perception. The ordinary least-squares regression model was applied to identify the influencing factors of PLCBs with data collected from 1732 urban residents in eastern China. Results show that PLCBs are positively influenced by normative internalization, learning capacity, symbol concern, expertise level, and an environmentalism culture. In particular, the effect of learning capacity is the largest, with an influence coefficient of 0.271. A negative impact is observed between the consumerism culture and PLCBs. Moreover, psychological empowerment perception partly medicated the association between individual–group-level factors and PLCBs, and the maximum ratio of mediating effect to the full impact is 62.64%. The study sheds light on low-carbon-related behavioral management, and recommendations to promote PLCBs are further proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Carbon Neutrality: Behavior and Policy)

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16 pages, 780 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Residents’ Behavior in Internet Recycling: From the Perspective of the Adoption of New Technology

by Tingting Liu, Zichen Zheng, Zhichao Wen, Shangyun Wu, Yaru Liu, Jing Cao and Zhixiong Weng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6166; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106166 - 19 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2314

Abstract

Achieving carbon neutrality has become a major national strategy for sustainability, and the recycling of recyclable resources is an important direction toward doing so. Due to the huge amounts of recyclable resources generated every year and the low recycling rate, a new Internet [...] Read more.

Achieving carbon neutrality has become a major national strategy for sustainability, and the recycling of recyclable resources is an important direction toward doing so. Due to the huge amounts of recyclable resources generated every year and the low recycling rate, a new Internet recycling model with great potential to increase the recycling rate has developed rapidly in China. However, low participation from residents hinders the sustainable development of Internet recycling. Through this study, we aim to uncover potential avenues for improving Internet recycling behavior. The factors influencing Internet recycling from the perspective of new technologies have scarcely been investigated. Therefore, this study used the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology theoretical framework to explore the factors influencing residents’ intentions and behavior toward Internet recycling. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 500 residents of Beijing, China, and empirical analysis was conducted using the structural equation model. The results indicated that social influence and performance expectancy significantly influence residents’ intentions to participate in Internet recycling, whereas effort expectancy and perceived risk do not. Facilitating conditions and behavioral intentions were identified as influential factors for use behavior. Relevant recommendations for promoting residents’ Internet recycling behavior were proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Carbon Neutrality: Behavior and Policy)

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