Introduction to the special issue ‘Navigating the climate emergency and sustainable behaviours: insights and opportunities in environmental psychology at ICEP Conference 2021’ / Introducción al número monográfico ‘Abordar la emergencia climática y los comportamientos sostenibles: perspectivas y oportunidades para la psicología ambiental en la Conferencia ICEP 2021’

The climate emergency, once perceived as a distant and abstract issue, has now firmly planted its consequences into our daily lives influencing human and natural systems. This rapid intensification of the climate crisis continues to require urgent actions. It also brings to light the profound impact it has on human health and well-being, on individual and collective lifestyles (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2022). In the face of the ongoing climate emergency and the associated psychological challenges, environmental psychology remains a critical discipline for comprehending the intricate interplay between humans and their environment. This field of study offers insights into the reasons behind people’s involvement in pro-environmental actions aimed at mitigating climate change. Furthermore, it equips individuals with tools to overcome the psychological obstacles that hinder sustainable behaviour, empowering citizens to contribute positively to environmental preservation (Sörqvist, 2016). Consequently, a shift in priority in the field of environmental psychology has also resulted from the psychological challenges posed by the climate crisis, specifically moving away from architecture, built and natural environments towards the causes of human behaviour that negatively impacts the environment. This shift in priorities gained significant momentum with the rise of widespread awareness concerning ecological crises in both the scientific community and society during the 1970s and 1980s. It further intensified in the early twenty-first century, as environmental psychologists became increasingly focused on delving into the complex linkages between human behaviour and the anthropogenic factors that play a crucial role in destabilizing and damaging global ecosystems (Kühn & Bobeth, 2022). Thenceforth, a number of specialized fields have emerged in the course of this evolution, including ecological psychology, conservation psychology and sustainability psychology. With the growth of these subfields, a wealth of knowledge and research methods has evolved to address pressing global issues, such as promoting behaviours that support environmental sustainability, enhancing awareness and knowledge about environmental issues through educational strategies, studying public engagement in shaping and influencing environmental policies, understanding the emotional and cognitive connections between individuals and their environments, examining factors influencing transportation choices and their environmental consequences, promoting energy-efficient building design and construction, and addressing the social and environmental implications of energy access disparities. Additionally, these subfields delve into studying environments that promote stress reduction and psychological restoration, exploring nature-based approaches to addressing environmental challenges, investigating the benefits of urban forestry and green spaces for human health and well-being, designing spaces and products that are accessible and accommodating to all individuals, and investigating housing-related issues, including affordability and social equity. To accomplish these goals, environmental psychologists understand the importance of conducting a thorough and all-encompassing analysis of both internal factors, such as attitudes, beliefs, values, moral norms, emotions and personality, as well as external factors like social norms, the evaluation of costs and benefits, and situational constraints. These factors play a pivotal role in shaping environmentally significant behaviour (e.g., Bamberg & Möser, 2007; Gifford & Nilsson, 2014; Klöckner, 2013; Steg & Vlek, 2009). The diverse and wide-ranging areas of research and inquiry within environmental psychology, as outlined above, formed the core of discussions during the 3rd International Conference of Environmental Psychology (ICEP), which was organized by the Department of Education of the Roma Tre University and held in Syracuse, Italy, from 5 to 8 October, 2021. The ICEP Conference series is held every two years under the auspices of the Division of Environmental Psychology of the International Association for Applied Psychology (IAAP). The 2021 edition was preceded by successful previous ICEP editions in La Coruna, 2017, and Plymouth, 2019, and by BCEP Conferences held in Groningen, Magdeburg and Zurich.

In the spirit of the ICEP Conference series, the purpose of the event was to give an opportunity for academics and professionals in environmental psychological science and practice to strengthen existing networks and to exchange scientific knowledge on some of the most urgent challenges of contemporary human society through a lively scientific discussion and the multidisciplinary collaboration between psychological science and other disciplines, such as architecture, economics, geography and natural science, and to foster the links between environmental research and policy. Through a variety of keynote addresses, panel discussions and poster presentations, a total of 331 participants were able to explore the latest research findings and theories within the field and discuss ways to utilize this knowledge to achieve a more sustainable behaviour change on an individual, collective and societal scale. This article introduces a special issue of PsyEcology, showcasing a curated selection of papers submitted by conference attendees. A key goal of this initiative is to engage with the academic community interested in the intricate dynamics of human–environment relationships in this time of climate emergency. A second major objective is to provide PsyEcology’s readers with a valuable resource that demonstrates a variety of approaches and methodologies capable of shedding light on the aforementioned thematic areas.

Rodriguez et al. (2024) present a paper focused on understanding those factors that influence people’s concerns about microplastic. This research shows the results of a national survey of 699 participants in Norway, finding that microplastics are moderately well known to the public and are perceived as a significant threat to humans and the environment, particularly plants and animals. The phenomenon of microplastics, however, was perceived as a less significant threat by individuals compared to the perceived threat to the environment. Furthermore, they provide evidence that individual differences in risk perception play an important role in explaining people’s reported levels of concern about microplastics, in addition to the influence of personal values and demographics. In the same line, aiming to comprehend waste management behaviours, Guichard et al. (2024) conducted a study exploring, among others, factors such as values, social norms, attitude, perceived behavioural control or behavioural intention. A total of 2,814 participants completed an online survey. Authors find that personal norms and pro-environmental identity relate to waste management intentions. Additionally, results from the structural equation modelling show an integrative model linking situational, normative, attitudinal and self-processes to waste management behavioural intentions. Considering sustainable actions, Rahm et al. (2024) present a study aiming to understand mobility patterns. Concretely, these authors introduce a conceptual model that focuses on explaining walking and cycling behaviours and physical environmental factors implied during the daylight and dark conditions. Results from a total of 164 participants in two Swedish cities show the role played by perceived surface quality, visual accessibility or perceived safety. Exploring pedestrians’ and cyclists’ experiences, authors find differences among perceived stimuli, environmental appraisal, affective response, behavioural intention, visual accessibility and restorative potential. Finally, Röderer et al.’s (2024) research examines psychological factors that influence energy citizenship support. Personal norms were a significant predictor of support for a scenario of energy citizenship. There was a significant influence of right-wing authoritarianism on support for energy citizenship. Support for this energy transition appears to be shaped by attitudes and orientations related to societal changes. According to the study, individuals should feel personally responsible for supporting energy citizenship and open to challenging conventions in order for the transition to this model to succeed. To summarize, the 3rd International Conference of Environmental Psychology (ICEP) in 2021 served as a forum where experts and professionals convened to share knowledge and explore strategies for encouraging sustainable behaviour change. This particular edition of this PsyEcology special issue delves into various subjects, including the issues surrounding microplastics, waste management practices, mobility trends and the concept of energy citizenship support. In essence, it is possible to assert that environmental psychology remains pivotal in enhancing our comprehension of human–environment dynamics, contributing to our joint endeavours to tackle the climate crisis and fostering a more sustainable future.