International Progress: Latest Developments in Environmental Psychology and Sustainability (2025-2026)

From early 2025 to March 2026, the international field of environmental psychology and sustainability has achieved breakthroughs in multiple areas, focusing on three core directions: the driving mechanisms of pro-environmental behavior, the interactive effects between nature and human psychology, and methodological innovations. Relevant research findings have provided solid theoretical support and operable paths for global sustainable development practices. Below, we summarize the latest international developments based on the achievements of top international journals and research teams.

In terms of research on the emotional and psychological mechanisms of pro-environmental behavior, the international academic community has achieved systematic breakthroughs. A meta-analysis study published by Schwartz et al. [1] in the Journal of Environmental Psychology integrated data from 41 global studies involving more than 76,000 samples, and for the first time clarified the hierarchy of the association strength between eight types of eco-emotions and pro-environmental behavior. It confirmed that worry and hope are the strongest driving factors, breaking the traditional perception that "negative emotions hinder environmental protection actions" and providing scientific guidance for global climate communication. Research by Zhou et al. [2] from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands supplemented the role of positive emotions, finding that the "warm glow" can promote individuals to continuously practice pro-environmental behaviors through a self-reinforcing positive cycle. This conclusion was verified through two practical behavioral experiments, making up for the limitation that previous studies relied on self-reports. In addition, a meta-analysis covering 21,374 subjects [3] showed that there is a significant positive correlation between awe and pro-environmental behavior, and the effect is stronger in collectivist cultures and real-scene induction, providing a new perspective for cross-cultural environmental interventions.

Research on the interaction between the natural environment and human mental health has become an international focus, focusing on empirical exploration in multiple scenarios and dimensions. A quasi-experimental study conducted by Schaupp et al. [4] from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology clarified the differential effects of urban forests and road noise on human psychophysiological restoration, and proposed a noise limit standard of 45 dB LAeq for leisure green spaces, providing precise parameter support for urban green space planning. The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences research team [5] has built the world's first multisensory outdoor laboratory (Sensola), which synchronously collects psychophysiological data and environmental parameters in real environments through wearable sensors. This solves the pain point of previous studies relying on simulated scenarios with insufficient ecological validity, and provides standardized methodological guidance for subsequent research on human-environment interaction in real environments. In addition, a study published by Hu et al. [6] from China University of Geosciences and international collaborators in Nature Cities, covering 9,034 cities worldwide, confirmed that high-biodiversity recreational areas around cities can effectively reduce residents' anxiety and depression. Moreover, residents in European and Oceanian cities have the highest accessibility and economic affordability to such areas, providing international experience for the "ecology-health" win-win layout in global territorial space planning.

Methodological innovation and the transformation of research paradigms have become important driving forces for the development of the field. The international academic community has gradually shifted from traditional correlational research to the exploration of causal mechanisms. Wang et al. [7] used the Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) to clarify the causal predictive effect of self-control on pro-environmental behavior, providing a theoretical basis for long-term behavioral interventions. The research team in the Zhuoybar region of Iran [8] combined agent-based modeling with environmental psychology theories to analyze the association between agricultural land use change and the degradation of agricultural ecosystem services, achieving interdisciplinary integration between psychological factors and ecosystem research. At the same time, bibliometric analysis [9] shows that international environmental psychology research has shifted from being US-centered to global multi-participation, with significant contributions from countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Australia. The research paradigm is transforming from anthropocentrism to ecocentrism, focusing more on the interdependence between human well-being and ecological health, and providing a more comprehensive perspective for addressing systemic issues such as global climate change and biodiversity loss. Rahmani et al. [10] also supplemented the research on nature-related interventions, confirming that relationship-oriented nature interventions are more effective in activating environmental identity and promoting pro-environmental behavior.

In general, the current international research on environmental psychology and sustainability presents the trends of "refined mechanisms, practical scenarios, standardized methods, and global perspectives". In the future, it will further focus on cross-cultural interventions, the combination of digital technology and psychological mechanisms, and psychological research on climate resilience and environmental justice, injecting more psychological power into the achievement of global sustainable development goals.

References

[1] Schwartz, M. I., Rosenauer, V., Vlasak, T., & Barth, A. The effect of climate-related emotions on actual pro-environmental behavior: A meta-analysis based on multiple eco-emotions. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2026, 110, 102886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2026.102886

[2] Zhou, L., Brick, C., Sachisthal, M. S. M., & Green, J. Warm glow and pro-environmental behavior: Supportive evidence from behavioral tasks. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2026, 110, 102902. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2026.102902

[3] Miller, A., Brown, K., & Lee, H. From awe to pro-environmental behavior: A meta-analysis of the relationship between awe and pro-environmental behavior. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2025, 108, 102690. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2025.2569090

[4] Schaupp, J., Müller, N., & Weber, C. Differential effects of urban forests and road noise on psychophysiological restoration: A randomized controlled trial revealing the mechanism of soundscape restoration. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2025, 108, 102662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102662

[5] Larsson, E., Nilsson, K., & Olsson, P. Psychophysiological research in real-world environments: Methodological perspectives from the SLU Multisensory Outdoor Laboratory. Frontiers in Psychology, 2025, 16, 1432180. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1432180

[6] Hu, S. G., Li, Y., & Zhang, L. Biodiversity-rich recreational areas near cities as a nature-based mental health solution. Nature Cities, 2025, 2(12), 251. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44284-025-00251-9

[7] Wang, X. B., Li, J. G., & Chen, H. The longitudinal relationship between self-control and pro-environmental behavior: An empirical analysis based on cross-lagged and random intercept cross-lagged models. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2026, 110, 102891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2026.102891

[8] Ali, M., Rezaei, S., & Farahmand, A. Combining agent-based model and environmental psychology to study agricultural land use change and prevent the degradation of agricultural ecosystem services. Journal of Environmental Management, 2026, 397, 117892. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.117892

[9] Dong, B., Wang, W., Qin, S., & Li, J. The current state and future directions of environmental psychology: A bibliometric analysis of JEVP and EB publications over the past 30 years. Journal of Psychological Science, 2025, 36(2), 71-142. https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20250221

[10] Rahmani, L., Haasova, S., Czellar, S., & Smith, D. Nature-related interventions and pro-environmental behavior: The role of relationship with nature in activating environmental identity. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2026, 110, 102755. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2026.102755