https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/ Journals of Environmental Education and Sustainable Development en daily 1 Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_13434.html Environmental citizenship refers to possessing knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to the urban environment in a way that leads to pro-environmental behavior. Citizens with pro-environmental behaviors bear the greatest responsibility toward the urban environment and consequently the preservation of its natural, historical, and heritage values. The present study aims to analyze the mechanisms influencing citizens’ place attachment to the urban environment by employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and SmartPLS software. Additionally, the assessment of validity and reliability of the research model, as well as the data analysis, was conducted using SEM in LISREL software. The study measures the level of awareness and environmental behaviors of Ahvaz citizens, seeking ways to enhance pro-environmental behaviors and reduce damage caused by urbanization and industrialization. Structural Equation Modeling is a comprehensive approach for testing hypotheses about relationships between observed and latent variables. The results of this study reveal the impact of the dimensions of civic behavior and their relationship with environmental protection, including environmental awareness, participation in local programs, sustainable consumption, support for environmental policies, and the growth of critical thinking and innovation. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_13435.html Environmental sustainability has, in recent years, increasingly been recognized as a strategic approach to protecting the environment and improving business management, with the aim of enhancing corporate performance. Accordingly, the present study is one of the few qualitative studies that, by employing a meta-synthesis approach, examines the antecedents and consequences of green absorptive capacity. The objective of the research is applied, and in terms of data collection, it falls within the category of descriptive studies; from the perspective of the research approach, it is qualitative. In this study, the meta-synthesis was conducted based on the seven-step model proposed by Sandelowski and Barroso (2007). For data collection, prior scientific documents were utilized, and ultimately, 27 relevant articles were selected as the primary sources for analysis. The data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method. The results of the study indicate that the factors influencing green absorptive capacity can be identified and classified into four main antecedent domains, while its outcomes fall into three main consequence domains. The antecedent domains refer to structural and operational empowerment for absorbing and utilizing green knowledge, interactive, institutional, and green market-oriented strategies, knowledge-based leadership and management for green synergy and innovation, and the exploitation and development of sustainable competitive capabilities in the green domain. On the other hand, the consequence domains include culture-strategy governance based on green interactions, a learning ecosystem for enhancing corporate sustainability, as well as the ambidextrous management of sustainable innovations. Thus, the results indicate that green absorptive capacity can help companies maintain and strengthen their competitive advantage in the market while paying serious attention to environmental issues and supporting the green economy. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_13436.html The environmental crisis is a critical issue for both current and future generations, driving research toward exploring the key factors that motivate individuals to engage in pro-environmental behaviors from an early age. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of deeply investigating the contexts and factors associated with pro-environmental parent-child behavior, using a qualitative thematic analysis approach. In this study, 15 participants (including parents, members of environmental organizations, and educational psychologists) participated in semi-structured interviews through purposive sampling until data saturation was reached. Data were analyzed using MAXQDA 2024 software. To ensure the validity of the findings, criteria of credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability were maintained. The findings, through thematic analysis of the interviews, identified six main themes: “Environmental Impacts on Psychological Dimensions and Parent-Child Interactions,” “Multilevel Determinants of Pro-environmental Parent-Child Behavior,” “Processes of Learning and Environmental Behavior Transmission,” “Internalization of Values and Environmental Identity,” “Educational Strategies and Interventions,” and “Consequences of Environmental Upbringing.” These themes comprehensively explain the contexts and factors related to pro-environmental parent-child behavior. The findings emphasize the vital role of the environment on psychological well-being, the influence of multilevel factors (individual, familial, and social), observational and experiential learning processes, and the internalization of environmental identity in transmitting these behaviors. This study highlights the necessity of designing participatory and practical educational interventions, promoting direct contact with nature, and developing supportive policies, while suggesting the need for future longitudinal and mixed-methods research. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_13437.html As industrial activity expands and environmental constraints become increasingly apparent, the need to foster pro-environmental behavior at both individual and societal levels has become more urgent. The environment is a dynamic system that both shapes human well-being and is shaped by human actions, and it has therefore emerged as a central concern for researchers and policymakers. It is now widely recognized that sustainable development and long-term economic growth cannot be achieved without a healthy and high-quality environment. In this context, university students represent a particularly influential group whose active engagement is essential to environmental improvement. This study examines students’ environmental perceptions and identifies the factors influencing their environmental attitudes and behaviors. The research adopts an applied, descriptive-survey design. Data were collected through a researcher-developed questionnaire administered to students enrolled in management, economics, and accounting programs at Payame Noor University in Markazi Province. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using LISREL software was employed to analyze the relationships among environmental education, environmental perception, environmental attitudes, and environmental behavior. The results show that environmental education is the strongest predictor of both environmental perception and behavior. It significantly enhances students’ understanding of environmental issues and sustainable development, thereby strengthening their environmental perceptions. Moreover, environmental perception has a positive and significant effect on environmental behavior and mediates the impact of environmental education on pro-environmental actions. Environmental education also exerts a direct effect on behavior in addition to its indirect influence through perception. In contrast, individual characteristics such as age, gender, and parental education exhibit weak and statistically insignificant effects.This study examines students’ environmental perceptions and identifies the factors influencing their environmental attitudes and behaviors. The research adopts an applied, descriptive-survey design. Data were collected through a researcher-developed questionnaire administered to students enrolled in management, economics, and accounting programs at Payame Noor University in Markazi Province. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using LISREL software was employed to analyze the relationships among environmental education, environmental perception, environmental attitudes, and environmental behavior.The results show that environmental education is the strongest predictor of both environmental perception and behavior. It significantly enhances students’ understanding of environmental issues and sustainable development, thereby strengthening their environmental perceptions. Moreover, environmental perception has a positive and significant effect on environmental behavior and mediates the impact of environmental education on pro-environmental actions. Environmental education also exerts a direct effect on behavior in addition to its indirect influence through perception. In contrast, individual characteristics such as age, gender, and parental education exhibit weak and statistically insignificant effects. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_13438.html The relationship between individuals and the environment is one of the most important dimensions of human relations. At the same time, the interplay among science, ethics, and religion is an important factor in shaping appropriate environmental models. This study aims to explain appropriate approaches to and applications of environmental models from scientific, ethical, and religious communication perspectives. This theoretical study employs a descriptive–analytical approach, with data collected through library research and the examination of relevant documents, books, and scholarly articles. The study maintained textual authenticity, honesty, and fidelity to the sources throughout the research process. Environmental citizenship provides a flexible framework that incorporates environmental protection and sustainable development by enhancing citizens’ roles in shaping the nature and quality of their interactions with the environment. The environmental citizenship model seeks to protect the environment and promote sustainable development by engaging members of society in environmental responsibility and action. This model can help establish an appropriate pattern of human–environment interaction. Science, ethics, and religion can contribute effectively to environmental protection when their principles become part of society and guide human relationships and behavior. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_13439.html Outdoor education, as an innovative approach to experiential learning integrated with the natural environment, plays a pivotal role in enhancing students' cognitive, physical, and social skills. However, challenges in implementing this method within educational systems—including a lack of standardized criteria and contextual factors—have hindered its full potential. This systematic review aims to identify key criteria for the effective implementation of outdoor education by examining the existing literature. This research is a qualitative systematic review with a thematic analysis and interpretive qualitative synthesis approach. A comprehensive search was conducted across the Web of Science, Scopus, and ERIC databases up to November 2024, using relevant keywords (e.g., outdoor education, implementation criteria, field-based learning), which initially identified 785 records. Inclusion criteria, framed by the PICOS framework, comprised peer-reviewed English-language articles focusing on the implementation, criteria, or challenges of outdoor education at primary and secondary levels, encompassing any relevant research design. Exclusion criteria encompassed studies involving preschool or higher education, purely opinion-based pieces, grey literature, or those lacking an emphasis on implementation factors. Following the removal of duplicates (n=2) and a two-stage screening process (title/abstract and full-text review) conducted independently by two researchers—with discrepancies resolved through consensus or consultation with a third assessor—62 articles were ultimately included for analysis. Validity was ensured through peer debriefing and adherence to the PRISMA 2020 checklist, while reliability was established using Gibbs' (2007) procedures. The findings highlighted six primary criteria: pedagogical (45 studies; with the strongest emphasis on active learning and curriculum alignment), organizational (35 studies; managerial support and stakeholder collaboration), human resources (29 studies; teacher competence and student engagement), socio-psychological and evaluation (21 studies each), and environmental (16 studies; accessibility and safety). The major challenges identified included financial-logistical barriers (24 studies), institutional-managerial obstacles (23 studies), human-related issues (19 studies), pedagogical difficulties (16 studies), and environmental-safety concerns (16 studies). These results offer a practical framework for educational policymakers: by prioritizing teacher professional development, strengthening institutional support, and fostering local community collaboration, implementation challenges can be overcome, thereby transforming outdoor education into an effective tool for enhancing environmental literacy, learning motivation, and student well-being in Iran. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_13474.html As environmental concerns increase and consumption patterns change, paying attention to sustainable consumption behavior as one of the key goals of sustainable development has become important and examining the factors affecting it is essential. The present study aims to investigate the impact of technological innovation on sustainable consumption behavior and analyze the mediating and moderating roles of digital factors, providing a scientific and practical framework for understanding and managing consumer behavior. The present study is applied in terms of its purpose and quantitative in terms of the type of data collection and based on a correlational approach with an emphasis on structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of 12,000 students at Urmia University, and the sample size of the study was determined to be 200 on the basis of the number of items. In order to increase the reliability of the research, 500 electronic questionnaires were distributed through stratified sampling. In this study, SPSS 23, AMOS 24, and Excel 2024 software were used to test the hypotheses. The results showed that technological innovation has a direct and positive effect on sustainable consumption behavior (β=0.438). Also, technological innovation affects digital marketing capabilities (β=0.531) and digital marketing capabilities play an effective mediating role in relation to sustainable consumption (β=0.213). In addition, green digital learning as a moderating variable strengthens the effect of technological innovation on digital marketing capabilities (β=0.064) and the effect of digital marketing capabilities on sustainable consumption behavior (β=0.076). The findings show that the simultaneous use of technological innovations, the development of digital marketing capabilities, and the promotion of green digital learning can effectively strengthen sustainable consumption behavior. In general, this study emphasizes the importance of technological innovation and green digital learning in promoting sustainable consumption and improving the efficiency of digital marketing capabilities. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_13475.html Water literacy, as an emerging concept in water resources management, plays a fundamental role in enhancing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors associated with sustainable water use. Within this framework, "institutional water literacy" goes beyond individual awareness and refers to organizational knowledge and decision-making structures related to water governance, thereby providing a basis for effective policymaking and macro-level decision-making. As the largest water-consuming sector in Iran, agriculture requires improvement at this level of literacy to enhance water productivity and the sustainability of water resources through scientific management and organizational knowledge capacities. The present study sought to identify the knowledge components of institutional water literacy within the organizational structure of water management in the Agricultural Jihad Organization of Qarchak County, using a qualitative approach based on thematic analysis. Data were collected and analyzed through semi-structured interviews and homogeneous purposive sampling with 17 informed and key stakeholders in the water sector and staff of the Agricultural Jihad Organization. To ensure the trustworthiness of the findings, Lincoln and Guba's four criteria, credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability, were applied, supported by participant review and the use of direct quotations. The findings identified 12 key knowledge categories: knowledge of the natural and environmental system of water resources; the socio-environmental consequences of the water crisis; policy and regulations; formal and customary property rights; the economics of water use and resource valuation; strategic, foresight, and contextual knowledge; participation and intersectoral governance; technical knowledge of efficient water use; productivity analysis and water-use measurement; data-driven knowledge and information technology; the water-agriculture-food security nexus; and communication and extension. The results indicate that enhancing institutional water literacy requires strengthening multidimensional knowledge capacities, including analytical, data-driven, technical, legal, and participatory capabilities; such an approach can support informed decision-making and effective water resource management in the agricultural sector. Accordingly, the study's operational model is organized around four pillars: ecosystem adaptation knowledge, integrated governance, technical-economic knowledge, and communication-extension knowledge. This model can serve as a roadmap for institutional transformation in other organizations involved in agricultural water management. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_13281.html Corporate sustainability is a multidimensional concept that combines financial and non‑financial dimensions (environmental, social, ethical, and governance). It not only meets the diverse needs of stakeholders but also facilitates the path toward sustainable development. Considering the significant role of companies in achieving sustainable development, the present study—through an innovative approach and with a focus on the non‑financial dimensions of corporate sustainability, particularly social and ethical aspects—aims to identify and rank the factors influencing the sustainability of Mobarakeh Steel Company, the largest steel producer in Iran and one of the top performers in the Iranian capital market, within the time scope of the year 2024. This unique focus distinguishes the study from other sustainability research and provides a foundation for ranking corporate sustainability. The research is applied in purpose and falls within survey‑based studies. First, individual and environmental indicators were extracted through library research. Subsequently, based on expert opinions, seven individual indicators and six environmental indicators were selected. In the next step, 19 experts from Mobarakeh Steel Company completed the pairwise comparison questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Expert Choice software version 11. The results showed that, from the perspective of the experts at Mobarakeh Steel Company, individual indicators have a greater impact on corporate sustainability compared to environmental indicators. Individual indicators, with a weight value of 0.796, were selected as the first priority, compared to environmental indicators with a weight value of 0.204. Furthermore, among the individual indicators, environmental awareness, with a weight value of 0.286, was identified as the most important indicator by the experts. Environmental awareness leads to a deeper understanding of environmental issues, and the role of environmental education in strengthening this indicator—and in overcoming the environmental challenges of a rapidly changing world—is undeniable. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_13493.html Attention to the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) has shown that providing affordable products to low-income groups can both create significant economic opportunities for businesses and help improve the quality of life for these groups. As environmental pressures intensify, global competition increases, and resources become more limited, organizations are compelled to adopt approaches that enhance economic efficiency and environmental sustainability simultaneously. In this context, frugal innovation (FI) has gained growing importance as an effective strategy for developing simple, low-cost, and efficient solutions, particularly in addressing the needs of low-income groups. Drawing on the Knowledge-Based View (KBV), Leader–Member Exchange (LMX) theory, and the Componential Theory of Creativity, this research investigates the effect of green knowledge-oriented leadership (GKOL) on FI and analyzes the mediating role of creative process engagement (CPE) and the moderating role of green knowledge sharing (GKS) in this relationship. Conducted within a post-positivist paradigm and using a deductive approach, the study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey in terms of method. The target population consisted of managers in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. Data were collected through a standardized online questionnaire, and analyzed using the PLS-SEM method in R software. The findings indicated that GKOL does not directly influence FI; rather, its effect is fully mediated through CPE. Furthermore, GKS enhances the impact of GKOL on CPE. These results enrich the literature on green leadership and FI and offer valuable practical insights for managers in the FMCG industry seeking to optimize resource management and enhance innovative processes. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_13280.html The current research was conducted with the aim of criminal protection and environmental ethics in the form of judicial role of cements in hospital waste management. The research method is correlation and its statistical population consists of all doctors and students of the University of Medical Sciences active in the field of environment, and 241 questionnaires were collected using available sampling method. Based on Article 156 of the Constitution, Articles 25 and 66 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the rules and methods of the executive management of medical waste, the executive regulations of the Waste Management Law, a designed questionnaire and the data obtained from the implementation of this questionnaire through chi-square tests, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. It was investigated. The results showed that from the point of view of doctors and students of the University of Medical Sciences, semans can play an effective role in hospital waste management, but because their role has not been given serious attention, the efficiency of their activity is not significant. Also, regarding the judicial role of semans, their role As 1- friend of the court, 2- the victim's counselor, 3- the plaintiff, these three factors, in the exploratory factor analysis, explain 60.055% of the total variance of the questionnaire, while the results of the analysis A confirmatory factor showed that the model has an acceptable fit. As a result, not only the role of cements in hospital waste management should be considered https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_13282.html This study investigates the interactive and nonlinear effects of income inequality and education on environmental degradation across a group of developing countries over the period 1995–2023. While education is widely regarded as a cornerstone of sustainable development, empirical evidence regarding its impact on environmental quality remains inconclusive. Accordingly, the main research question is: Does the effect of education on environmental degradation depend on the level of income inequality in a society? To address this question, a Panel Threshold Regression (PTR) model is employed to identify potential critical points in the relationship among the variables. The empirical findings reveal a statistically significant threshold for the Gini coefficient, approximately at the level of 39.5. In countries with income inequality below this threshold, higher levels of education are significantly associated with reduced environmental pollution. This suggests that education can effectively contribute to environmental improvement by raising awareness and promoting pro-environmental behaviors. However, in countries where income inequality exceeds this threshold, the positive effect of education diminishes and may even reverse—such that, in unequal contexts, education may foster conspicuous consumption and, consequently, intensify environmental degradation. These findings carry particular importance for countries like Iran, which simultaneously face high income inequality and the urgent need to transition toward a green economy. Therefore, educational policy design must incorporate a distributive and equity-oriented approach to enable the achievement of sustainable development goals. https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_13283.html The purpose of the present study was to design a conceptual model of the environment with an approach of sustainable economic management. This research was conducted using a qualitative approach and the systematic grounded theory method. Participants included 20 university faculty members, experts in the field of environmental education, and economic and environmental activists, who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. To increase the validity and reliability of the data, data triangulation, member checking, and agreement between two coders were utilized. Data analysis was performed using open, axial, and selective coding methods, and the MAXQDA software was employed to facilitate the analysis process. The dimensions of the paradigmatic model were as follows: central phenomenon (weak institutionalization of environmental education in Iran's educational system), causal conditions (environmental crises, inefficiency of the educational system in addressing environmental issues, lack of environmental attitude and responsibility, absence of policy-making and institutional support, need for sustainable economic development), contextual conditions (societal cultural structure, formal and informal education system, regional economic conditions, political and institutional structure), intervening conditions (understanding and interpretation by managers and mid-level implementers, professional motivation and sense of belonging among implementers, flexibility of the executive structure, centralization in evaluation and higher-level structures, instability in policy-making and management, institutional and administrative support), strategies (socio-cultural opportunities and limitations, active teaching methods, experiential and practical environmental education, localization of education, modern educational technologies, teacher empowerment), consequences (strengthening environmental awareness and knowledge, improvement of individual and collective behaviors, development of a culture of social responsibility, enhancement of school cultural identity, increase in inter-institutional cohesion, facilitation of achieving local sustainable development).