The Role of Low-Carbon Literacy in the Leisure, Health, Sports and Tourism Industries

Dear Colleagues,

While leisure, sports and tourism activities contribute positively to human development, they also bring notable environmental challenges (Tribe, 2020; Lin et al., 2024). For example, the deforestation or destruction of communities to build infrastructure for tourism can lead to significant environmental harm (Wondirad and Ewnetu, 2019). Additionally, modes of transportation used in these activities, such as airplanes and cars, produce fuel emissions, noise pollution and waste (Chandel, 2022). Public attitudes towards consumption, especially in leisure and tourism, often reflect a desire for unlimited resource use, resulting in ecological damage, excessive waste and a strain on facilities. Furthermore, in pursuit of short-term profit, some businesses compromise service quality and engage in deceptive practices (Sadiqe Ali Mohsen, 2023). Such unsustainable development not only hinders government efforts to boost the economy and improve living standards but also leads to resource depletion, environmental degradation and growing public discontent with local tourism industries.

To mitigate these issues, it is essential to raise public environmental awareness and promote low-carbon, sustainable consumption models in leisure, sports and tourism. These models will foster both economic sustainability and environmental protection while enhancing human well-being.

Low-carbon literacy is key to this effort, educating the public on sustainable consumption through government and scientific initiatives, including financial investment, research and public awareness campaigns. It emphasizes the need to understand the damaging effects of excessive leisure and tourism activities on the climate and ecosystems. By fostering respect for natural resources and the importance of biodiversity, low-carbon literacy can encourage sustainable behaviors in daily life and leisure activities. Ultimately, this approach seeks to strike a balance between economic growth, environmental conservation and human health.

The significance of carbon reduction has been long established. In 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) underscored its importance and the 2019 EAT-Lancet report highlighted how healthy consumption and diets can stabilize both human health and economic development. In 2012, Health Care Without Harm emphasized that carbon reduction efforts can also yield economic benefits. Research shows that low-carbon behaviors do not necessarily limit leisure, sports, tourism, or health activities. Instead, these behaviors can enhance economic, health and well-being outcomes (HUANG, 2011; Preedy, 2024; Xiong, 2024; Health Systems and Facilities, 2024).

However, studies by Wu (2021), Zheng et al. (2021) and Lin et al. (2023, 2024) suggest that policy outcomes and research findings may evolve over time due to various human and environmental factors. The effectiveness of policies can be influenced by political culture, public education, leisure preferences and other social dynamics (Ferreira et al., 2021; McAteer et al., 2021; Jayasekara et al., 2024; Ozbey et al., 2024). It's important to recognize that many current research conclusions are based on assumptions that may not be universally applicable across different regions, cultures, or socioeconomic contexts.

In light of these complexities, we are launching this special issue to gather global perspectives and research on the effectiveness of low-carbon literacy education, government policies and corporate strategies in fostering sustainable practices in the leisure, sports, tourism and health industries. We particularly encourage studies that explore public consumption attitudes and behaviors, the role of low-carbon education in promoting sustainable practices and the broader impact of these efforts on the economy, environment and public well-being.

This special issue invites original research articles and reviews on a range of topics, including but not limited to:

1. The regulatory impact of low-carbon education policies on the leisure, sports, tourism and health industries, as well as the economy, environment and public well-being.
2. The influence of low-carbon behaviors on the leisure, sports, tourism and health sectors and their effects on the economy, environment and well-being.
3. The economic, environmental, health and social impact of low-carbon industries in the leisure, sports, tourism and health sectors.
4. The role of low-carbon literacy in promoting sustainable economic, environmental and health outcomes.

We encourage scholars from diverse fields such as leisure, sports, health, education, economics and environmental studies to submit innovative research addressing these topics. Interdisciplinary approaches and studies utilizing mixed research methods are particularly welcome. We believe that this special issue will offer valuable insights into how low-carbon literacy and sustainable practices can contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future for both economic and ecological systems.

Dr. Hsiao-Hsien Lin
Prof. Dr. Chin-Hsien Hsu
Dr. Ha-Manh Bui
Guest Editors

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• low carbon literacy
• conservation behavior
• education policy
• environmental economics
• corporate social responsibility
• university social responsibility
• health promotion
• well-being