The big five personality traits and environmental engagement: Associations at the individual and societal level

This study compared the person and national-level personality correlates of environmental engagement. Associations between specific personality traits and environmental concern have been observed in a number of studies, but few have examined associations between the Big Five personality traits and environmental engagement. Associations at the individual-level were examined with the environmental value ‘protecting the environment’ (Study 1) and retrospective self-reports of electricity conservation behaviour (Study 2) in national probability samples. Country-level indices of sustainability, environmental attitudes, and harmony values were related to aggregate personality traits with data across nations (Study 3). Across both persons and nations, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness and Openness to Experience were the traits most strongly linked to environmental engagement. These findings provide insight into the ways in which stable regularities in overall behavioural patterns are linked to more specific aspects of conservation behaviour and attitudes both in persons and across entire societies. Theoretical explanations for the findings are proposed.     

Assessing Natural and Anthropogenic Variability in Wetland Structure for Two Hydrogeomorphic Riverine Wetland Subclasses

The hydrogeomorphic approach (HGM) to wetland classification and functional assessment has been applied regionally throughout the United States, but the ability of HGM functional assessment models to reflect wetland condition has limited verification. Our objective was to determine how variability derived from anthropogenic effects and natural variability impacted site assessment variables within regional wetland subclasses in central Oklahoma. We collected data for nine potential assessment variables including vegetation physiognomy (e.g., tree basal area, herbaceous cover, canopy cover, etc.) and soil organic matter at wetlands of two HGM riverine subclasses (oxbow and riparian) in May and June, 2010. Using Akaike Information Criteria, we identified limited relationships between landscape disturbance metrics and assessment variables within subclasses. The high degree of natural variability from climatic and hydrologic factors within both subclasses may be masking the impact of landscape disturbance on the other measured assessment variables. Precipitation had significant effects on assessment variables within each of the subclasses. To reduce natural climatic variability, the reference domain may need to be further subdivided. The approach used in this study provides fairly rapid and quantitative methods for evaluating the effectiveness of using HGM assessment variables in assessing wetland condition regionally.     

Customer-driven environmental information management systems

The most successful corporate environmental programs regard environmental compliance as an opportunity to improve productivity and profits and seek to integrate environmental information management systems (EIMS) into line information functions. Integrated EIMS should provide timely, accurate data to support all three types of environmental management responsibilities: results and comparison reports for source management; material and waste transaction and emission reports for materials management; and compliance, summary, exception, and trend data for risk managers at every level.     

A proposal for design-based auto industry environmental regulation

As the U.S. auto industry tries to remain competitive in the face of evolving environmental rules, the new administration is presented with the opportunity to achieve environmental and economic goals through an industry-government partnership. The authors suggest a policy of total environmental quality as a starting point.