Identifying which factors people consider to be important regarding social issues can help individuals and organizations determine the level of interest and understandings of members of the public, and inform responses to future social issues. We analyzed tweets regarding nuclear power on Twitter from 2020 to 2022 using: 1) news tweets about nuclear power and Twitter-users replies to them, to clarify people’s interest and opinions about nuclear power-related news topics and 2) tweets in which people mentioned nuclear power and news tweets to which they replied, to clarify people’s opinions of nuclear power. In this analysis, two types of news tweets were clustered, and a comparative analysis of both news cluster sets was conducted. The Ukraine Russia conflict and the discharge of treated water were major events occurring in two years, and the number of reply tweets indicated that topics related to these events were of high interest in both news cluster types. Additionally, the topic of power shortages prompted a high level of interest, which was difficult for the media to capture. We used similar clustering of reply tweets in the clusters to obtain an overview of the people's perceptions and understandings.

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Recreational fishing brings diverse benefits for anglers, including physical fitness, relaxation, social interaction with friends and family, and raising environmental awareness. However, waste generation by anglers causes environmental and social problems, such as fishing line entanglement with birds and mower machines. Thus, it is important to maintain waterside environments for both natural benefits and recreational fishing through approaches that do not restrict activities while encouraging pro-environmental behavior (PEB) among anglers. This study aims to report details of waste behaviors during recreational fishing and identify the psychological factors that predict anglers’ waste-related PEB at fishing sites. Self-reported data were collected from 300 regular inland water anglers in Japan using an online questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis results suggest that fishing-related waste, such as fishing lines and rigs, as well as packaging trash, are commonly left despite anglers’ attempts not to do so due to their material characteristics (i.e., tiny, light, less visible) and the activity environment (i.e., outdoor with the wind); perceived seriousness, perceived effectiveness, others’ expectations for PEB, and biospheric value would enhance anglers’ PEB at fishing sites. Potential measures are discussed based on these results.

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Plastic pollution is a pressing global environmental challenge. Encouraging sustainable behavior among consumers is essential for solving this problem. This study investigated the role of faith in shaping behaviors to mitigate plastic pollution in Japan and Malaysia. In this study, faith was translated into perceived faith connections with the environment, culture, cleanliness, and solutions to understand its universal role in pro-environmental behaviors regardless of the type and depth of religious beliefs. An online questionnaire survey was administered to university students (Japan, N = 157; Malaysia, N = 192), and the psychological processes involved in plastic pollution mitigation were examined based on the theory of planned behavior. A factor analysis of faith connections revealed the relevance of faith as one of three factors. The results of the structural equation modeling showed that the relevance of faith was positively associated with behavior in both countries, while the primary significant paths were distinctive. Positive attitudes toward behavioral change and perceived behavioral control (i.e., opportunities) are critical psychological factors encouraging behaviors in Japan and Malaysia. These findings suggest that faith plays a pivotal role in shaping pro-environmental intentions and behaviors and that structural and psychological barriers must be overcome.

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Invasive alien species are seriously threatening biodiversity worldwide. This study focused on Procambarus clarkii, a native species of the southeastern United States that is now widely recognized as an invasive species in Japan's rice paddy fields. Despite regulations regarding P. clarkii, its impact extends beyond biodiversity loss, affecting both agriculture and water management. We investigated the characteristics of rice paddies affecting P. clarkii habitats, focusing on the influence of permanent water bodies such as ditches. Our results showed a significant negative effect of water temperature on P. clarkii abundance during the irrigation season, which we attributed to paddy field temperatures exceeding the preferred range for this species during the irrigation season. Although ditches, as permanent water bodies, were the primary habitat for this species in our study area, ditch presence did not strongly affect the species’ population in the rice paddies, which was likely due to an increase in water temperature in the rice paddies as a result of ditch establishment.

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This study conducted surveys on the historical evolution of the maintenance and management of the Sacred Autumn Maple Tree Cultural Ecological Park in Taichung and the awareness of residents about da-shu gong (long-lived sacred tree), with the objective of investigating superior conservation/succession methods for places of tree worship. We observed that the Sacred Autumn Maple Tree has avoided a major growth crisis due to urban development by cooperation between local residents and the government. The questionnaire survey showed that da-shu gong contribute to the environmental, social, and spiritual aspects of the lives of local residents. This is likely due to the maintenance of the Cultural Ecological Park, symbolized by the da-shu gong, and their participation in improving the park through da-shu gong ecological conservation activities. The environmental, social, and spiritual evaluation and the multi-faceted roles of da-shu gong are enhanced through stronger connections with and greater knowledge concerning da-shu gong. The training lectures for local residents responsible for da-shu gong conservation and environmental education at the local elementary school will contribute to ensuring the continuous inheritance of positions of responsibility in the future.

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E-waste, or electronic waste, refers to discarded electronic devices and components, including computers, smartphones, televisions, and other electronic equipment that are no longer functional or desired. These items often contain hazardous materials, which can pose significant environmental and health risks if not properly managed. This study leverages the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize E-waste management strategies in Jordan, aiming to guide policymakers amid the region’s increasing E-waste challenges. E-waste, recently distinguished from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Jordan, necessitates better handling due to its environmental and health implications. Utilizing a multi-criteria decision-making framework, this research constructs a hierarchical model spanning technical, environmental, economic, social, and regulatory factors, informed by expert insights and validated through sensitivity analysis. The findings underscore ‘Improved Regulation and Monitoring’ as the top management priority, emphasizing the role of Compliance and Enforcement and the pivotal Regulatory Aspect. The proposed strategic framework advocates for legislative development and improvement of E-waste related instructions fostering a sustainable E-waste approach in Jordan and the broader Middle East and North African (MENA) region.

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