How Your Surroundings Shape Environmental Action
A fascinating new study reveals that the after-effects of a walk in the park extend far beyond the personal benefits—changing not just how we feel, but how we treat the planet.
Imagine two people sitting on the same park bench, surrounded by the same trees and birdsong. One leaves inspired to start composting and join a community garden, while the other simply returns home unchanged. This variation isn't random—increasingly, scientists are discovering that the greenness of our surroundings plays a crucial role in determining whether nature exposure translates into pro-environmental behavior.
As urbanization intensifies—with nearly 70% of the world's population expected to live in cities by 2050 9 —understanding this relationship has never been more critical. Recent research is uncovering a complex interplay between the nature we experience, how connected we feel to it, and the actions we take to protect our planet. The answer to whether nature exposure boosts environmental behavior depends not just on whether we visit natural spaces, but on the quality, context, and familiarity of those experiences.
People with greener neighborhoods are up to 45% more likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviors 2 .
The relationship between nature exposure and environmental action is mediated by psychological factors like nature connectedness and emotional responses to natural settings.
While occasional nature visits provide benefits, research suggests that the greenness of our daily surroundings significantly influences the strength of the nature-behavior connection. A nationally representative study of 24,204 adults in England found that both recreational nature visits and neighborhood greenspace were independently associated with pro-environmental behaviors 2 .
The structural equation modeling revealed striking patterns:
Perhaps most importantly, the study found that improving access to nature could benefit both high and low socioeconomic status households, highlighting the potential for well-designed urban greenspace to promote sustainability across diverse communities 2 4 .
The journey from nature exposure to environmental action isn't automatic—it travels through important psychological pathways. Two key mechanisms stand out in the research:
Perhaps the most powerful mediator is the feeling of being psychologically connected to the natural world. When people experience nature—whether through direct exposure or even virtual environments—they're more likely to incorporate nature into their self-concept. This "inclusion of nature in self" makes pro-environmental actions feel like a form of self-preservation rather than sacrifice .
Studies consistently show that this sense of connection predicts both mental health benefits and pro-environmental behaviors, sometimes independently of the amount of time spent outdoors 7 8 .
Certain types of natural environments can elicit the emotion of awe—the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends our current understanding. Research suggests that awe may be associated with generosity and cooperation, potentially making people more likely to act for the benefit of the planet 8 .
Interestingly, this effect isn't merely because nature makes people happier; studies have found that the prosocial and pro-environmental effects remain even when controlling for mood changes 1 .
| Pathway | Description | Key Supporting Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Nature Connectedness | Feeling psychologically merged with nature | Strong association with PEB even controlling for exposure 7 |
| Awe and Wonder | Emotional response to nature's vastness | Linked to generosity and cooperation beyond mood effects 8 |
| Attention Restoration | Replenished mental resources | Restored cognition may support planned environmental actions 3 8 |
| Stress Reduction | Physiological calming effect | Lower stress may increase capacity for environmental concern 3 7 |
A sophisticated 2025 study published in Scientific Reports tackled a critical question: Do all urban environments impact residents equally, or do different settings produce varied psychological and physiological effects? 5 This research was particularly significant because it moved beyond the simple "natural vs. built" environment dichotomy that had dominated previous studies.
The research team selected four distinct urban environments in Nanjing, China:
The researchers recruited 31 university students (aged 21-26) and used BiosignalsPlux multi-channel physiological signal acquisition equipment to measure two key indicators:
Each participant spent 8-10 minutes in each environment while their physiological responses were recorded. Following each exposure, they completed psychological assessments including the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS).
The findings challenged conventional assumptions about nature and built environments:
Historical districts demonstrated surprisingly strong positive impacts on emotions, in some cases exceeding even natural areas in their restorative benefits
Different urban elements (trees, water features, buildings) had varying impacts depending on their context—the same element could have different effects in different settings
The business district consistently evoked higher beta wave activity (indicating mental tension) and increased skin conductance (suggesting stress responses)
All-green areas produced the highest alpha wave activity, consistent with relaxed awareness
| Environment Type | Alpha Wave Activity | Beta Wave Activity | Skin Conductance | Perceived Restorativeness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-green district | Highest | Lowest | Lowest | High |
| Semi-green/semi-waterfront | High | Low | Low | High |
| Historical district | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Highest |
| Business district | Lowest | Highest | Highest | Lowest |
The implications for environmental behavior are profound: if certain urban environments can produce similar restorative benefits to natural ones, city planners have multiple pathways to foster residents' well-being and, potentially, their environmental engagement.
The growing evidence connecting nature exposure, surroundings, and pro-environmental behavior points to concrete strategies for promoting sustainability:
| Research Tool | Function | Application Example |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic Ecological Momentary Assessment (GEMA) | Real-time tracking of experiences in natural environments | Measuring immediate psychological responses to greenspace exposure 9 |
| Electroencephalography (EEG) | Records brain wave patterns | Detecting relaxed (alpha) vs. alert (beta) states in different environments 5 |
| Electrodermal Activity (EDA) | Measures skin conductivity indicating emotional arousal | Assessing stress responses to urban vs. natural settings 5 |
| Greater Good Game (GGG) | Behavioral measure differentiating cooperation from pro-environmental actions | Testing genuine environmental behavior vs. social cooperation |
| Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) | Satellite-based measure of greenness | Quantifying greenspace exposure at different buffer distances 7 |
The relationship between nature exposure and pro-environmental behavior is far from simple. Whether time in nature translates into environmental action depends significantly on the greenness of our surroundings, the quality of our experiences, and the psychological connections we form with the natural world.
The evidence points to a hopeful conclusion: even in urban environments, well-designed spaces that incorporate natural elements, historical value, and opportunities for engagement can foster the psychological conditions that inspire environmental stewardship. As one research team concluded, "Improving access to, and contact with, nature, e.g., through better urban planning, may be one approach for meeting sustainability targets" 2 .
The journey toward a more sustainable future may depend not just on telling people to care for the environment, but on creating communities that help them feel connected to the natural world in their daily lives. As the research shows, when nature becomes part of who we are, protecting it becomes second nature.