This study systematically reviewed 38 peer-reviewed articles (2020–2024) on social media and environmental communication in China following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. It identified dominant research patterns across themes, theories, methods, and platforms. The field is heavily shaped by behavioral models (e.g., TPB, NAT) and survey-based designs, while institutional dynamics, platform governance,...

Air pollution remains a pressing global issue, contributing to millions of deaths annually and disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities. While conventional air quality governance has relied on costly, specialized instruments, recent advances in lower capital cost sensors and digital infrastructure have enabled broader participation in environmental monitoring. This shift creates opportu...

Low and Zero Emission Zones (LEZs and ZEZs) are one tool for cities to improve air quality and health outcomes. Whilst many EU cities already have LEZs, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach, and social acceptability is key to their success. This IEEP report discusses key issues around the social acceptability of LEZs and ZEZs, drawing on the experiences of five EU cities. Emissions from u...

The working paper is part of the “Low Emission Zone/Congestion Charge (LEZ/CC) Public Communication Strategies” series of papers to offer a comprehensive package of public communication strategies to safeguard successful implementation. It is the first paper in the series, and studies 10 cases from Europe, Asia, and the United States to highlight the variety of social, political, and environmental...

Diverse citizens need to be involved in net zero transitions to ensure policy interventions do not entrench inequalities for people from minoritised or disenfranchised groups and ensure public engagement with rapid social changes. This paper illustrates the importance of designing enjoyable engagement activities aimed at segmented citizen and community groups, to ensure a broad cross-section of so...

The governance and monitoring of environmental hazards—and of air pollution in particular—is often dominated by technical expertise and scientific knowledge. Approaches of this kind remove the issue from the public debate and democratic deliberation: citizens are de facto excluded from related decision-making and their knowledge about the problem is barely taken into account. This article explores...

Air quality is a matter of rights. A substantive right to clean air for individuals has emerged from European Union legislation, the corollary of duties made ever tighter by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). In delivering on these developments, reliance on two factors was and remains of crucial importance: litigation and citizen science. The present article focuses on the CJEU’s i...

In Japan, during the high economic growth period (1950–1960s), air pollution due to sulfur dioxide (SO2) and dust derived from large-scale factories and power plants was apparent in many industrial districts, and it caused serious health problems such as the so-called “Yokkaichi Asthma.” Many epidemiological studies have revealed the relationship between air pollution and respiratory diseases, and...

Communicating to the public about urban air pollution is a complex task. It requires careful consideration of the goals and objectives of the communication, the target audience, the type of information and the messages to be conveyed, and the vehicles through which the message will be delivered. This complexity increases when the goal of communication is not only making information about air pollu...

Many disasters occur in Japan, and therefore many initiatives to educate and integrate foreign residents into its society to overcome systematic barriers and enhance disaster preparedness have been implemented. Nevertheless, studies have highlighted foreign residents as a vulnerable group who are at risk of disasters in the country. The country anticipates and prepares for potential mega-disasters...