Pro-Environmental Civic Participation in the USA: The Effects of Social Media, Pro-Environmental Lifestyle and Climate Experiences

This study addresses the link between social media use and pro-environmental civic participation considering the moderating effect of social media affordances (public realm) on one hand, and lifestyle behaviors and climate change experiences (personal realm) on the other. We combine communication theory and behavioral models and using a sample of USA individuals (N = 7225) based on the American Trends Panel to predict variations in pro-environmental behavior. We show that social networks rather than information are more effective in predicting pro-environmental behavior. Moreover, a pro-environmental lifestyle as well as climate change experiences at the community level increase the likelihood for pro-environmental participation. However, affordances related to socioeconomic variations generate variations to pro-environmental civic participation. We conclude that in order to capture the depth of pro-environmental civic participation, it is necessary to theoretically and empirically bridge between private and public expressions of pro-environmental awareness.

The influencing mechanism of pro-environmental behaviors in the private domain on those in the public domain

From the perspective of regulatory focus theory,the influencing mechanism of pro-environmental behaviors(PEBs)in the private domain on behaviors in the public domain were analyzed by revealing the mediating ef‐fect of the status quo maintenance and the moderating effect of the prevention focus orientation.The study re‐sults show that PEBs in the private domain significantly promote individuals’PEBs in the public domain.The status quo maintenance partially mediates the relationship between PEBs in the private and public domains.Specifically,individuals with a high-level prevention focus orientation strengthen the relationship between the PEBs in the private domain and the status quo maintenance,and that of the PEBs in the public domain.There‐fore,individuals with a high-level prevention focus will more likely engage in subsequent PEBs in the public domain after their initial PEBs in the private domain due to their increased status quo maintenance degree.Policymakers and practitioners should pay attention to the prevention-repetition effect and use the PEBs in the private domain to promote those in the public domain.

The Effects of Job Insecurity, Emotional Exhaustion, and Met Expectations on Hotel Employees’ Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Test of a Serial Mediation Model

There are a plethora of empirical pieces about employees’pro-environmental behaviors.However,the extant literature has either ignored or not fully examined various factors(e.g.,negative or positive non-green workplace factors)that might affect employees’pro-environmental behaviors.Realizing these voids,the present paper proposes and tests a serial mediation model that examines the interrelationships of job insecurity,emotional exhaustion,met expectations,and proactive pro-environmental behavior.We used data gathered from hotel customer-contact employees with a time lag of one week and their direct supervisors in China.After presenting support for the psychometric properties of the measures via confirmatory analysis in LISREL 8.30,the abovementioned linkages were gauged using the PROCESS plug-in for statistical package for social sciences.The findings delineated support for the hypothesized associations.Specifically,emotional exhaustion and met expectations partly mediated the effect of job insecurity on proactive pro-environmental behavior.More importantly,emotional exhaustion and met expectations serially mediated the influence of job insecurity on proactive pro-environmental behavior.These findings have important theoretical implications as well as significant implications for diminishing job insecurity,managing emotional exhaustion,increasing met expectations,and enhancing ecofriendly behaviors.

Misperception and pro-environmental behaviors of the Chinese public toward air pollution

This study analyzes the misperceptions of the Chinese public about air pollution levels and other potential predictors of participation in pro-environmental behaviors based on the 2013 Chinese General Social Survey(CGSS).In this paper,misperception is defined as the difference between subjective perceptions of air pollution and measurements through objective monitoring.We find that pessimistic respondents are more likely to participate in pro-environmental behaviors.The media use and evaluation of the environmental performance of the local government significantly stimulate pro-environmental participation.The results reveal that knowledge and concern about the environment can mitigate the negative effect of optimistic bias on pro-environmental behaviors.In regions where environmental information is widely available,environmental pessimists are especially more likely to participate in such activities.This finding suggests that the government should provide not only accurate information about environmental pollution but also relevant education to enhance the environmental awareness of the public and stimulate pro-environmental participation.

The Effect of Overseas Educational Experience on Pro-Environmental Practices: Evidence from Cambodian Academic Scholars

This paper revealed that after spending years overseas for learning, Cambodian fellows realized that a clean society more likely results from the adopting of a waste management system. The lack of such is the main barrier for waste separation willingness and practices in Cambodia. Self-transcendence values and volunteerism are empirically found as the fundamental factors for any interventions designed to promote pro-environmental intentions and practices respectively. The fellows engaging in volunteerisms appear to do waste separation, ignoring how inconvenient the waste management system or facilities are. Similarly, the fellows concerning the environmental and social issues appear to spare their valuable time to do waste-separation which they find not difficult. This is not the case in this COVID-19 epidemic though. The study results imply that in a society where an inconvenient waste management system is in place the fellows without past volunteering, no matter how knowledgeable they are, will less likely engage in the waste-sorting practice.

The impact of OFDI on firm pro-environmental behavior:Evidence from China

Outward Foreign Direct Investment(OFDI)is a crucial decision in the internationalization strategy of firms and they confront diversified environmental policies and practices of host countries,when engaging in cross-border investments.However,there is a lack of research to investigate whether foreign direct investment(OFDI)is an important factor affecting the environmental commitment of firms.This study aims to empirically analyze the impact and mechanism by which firm outward foreign direct investment(OFDI)influences pro-environmental commitments,utilizing data collected from Chinese listed companies between 2010 and 2020.The results show:1)there is a significant positive relationship between firm OFDI and pro-environmental commitments;2)mechanistic tests show that the OFDI can promote pro-environmental commitments through two channels:public attention and technological learning capacity;3)heterogeneity analysis reveals that the green effects of OFDI are more pronounced firms with institutional investors and state ownership,as well as in firms situated in host countries with more stringent environmental regulations;4)further analysis reveals OFDI-induced greater green commitments generated real environmental and economic outcomes:firms invested more in environmental protection and reduced CO_(2)emissions.In the meantime,they experienced lower excessive debt risk and higher innovative performance.The findings have positive implications for the promotion of firms’pro-environmental behavior and sustainable development.