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2002

The environment ?What Europeans thinkThe environment ?What Europeans think

The environment ?What Europeans think

Principal results of polls conducted in 2002within the framework of the EUROBAROMETER 58.0

and FLASH EUROBAROMETER 123 surveys.

2002

Published by the DG ENVIRONMENT (Communication and Civil Society Unit) in association with the DG PRESS ANDCOMMUNICATION (Public Opinion Analysis).

Published in 3 languages: English, French and German.

Publisher: Newcom Editor: Texto

Additional information on environmental policies is availableon the DG Environment website

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment

Europe Direct is a service to help you find answersto your questions about the European Union

New freephone number: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11

A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. It can be accessed through the Europaserver (http://europa.eu.int).

Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2003

ISBN 92-894-4778-8

© European Communities, 2003 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged

Printed in Belgium

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

Introduction

The environment has the highest priority for Europeans.

It is a matter for each and every citizen of Europe, part of our lives and a daily concern

for us all. European environmental policy must take into account the opinions of citizens

who both benefit from and shape the environment. It is also important to regularly

poll people's views on the issue. Their perceptions on the environment, their concerns

and aspirations, as well as their opinions on the evolution of policies are all factors

that can help shape the contours of policy.

In 2002, two opinion polls threw new light on environmental and sustainable

development issues.

The results, which are representative of all Europeans, provide us with a great deal

of important information:

environmental issues continue to be the prime concern of Europeans ;

Europe is felt to be the preferred level of decision-making ;

the environment determines the quality of life of Europeans, rather than economic

or social conditions ;

the majority of citizens feel they are not satisfactorily informed on a significant

number of environmental problems ;

there is also a clear lack of information when it comes to solutions to environ-

mental problems ;

over four people in ten feel that an efficient way to act is 'to raise general environ-

mental awareness';

as a source of information on the environment, the European Union inspires

greater trust among citizens than national, regional or local authorities.

The opinions expressed in these surveys will certainly be taken into account when

the European Commission moulds future initiatives. Europe is a world leader in

terms of the environment and we must redouble our efforts. These surveys express

that very explicitly.

Commissioner for the Environment

Margot Wallström

Contents

6

889

10

12121415

18181921

242426

28

303031323435

A few words on the survey ...................................................................................................

1 How do Europeans perceive the environment? .................................................

The environment is at the heart of the quality of life in Europe ....................................................

The environment, a deep-seated concern .................................................................................

Our way of life under the spotlight ............................................................................................

2 What is it that worries Europeans? .............................................................................

Nuclear power and industrial risks worry one in two Europeans .................................................

1999-2002, concerns are growing ..............................................................................................

The countries of southern Europe are becoming more concerned about their environment .......

3 Are Europeans informed? ...............................................................................................

Not everyone is equal when it comes to information ... ..............................................................

Could do better ... .....................................................................................................................

Europe follows the small screen ................................................................................................

4 Are Europeans committed to action? .......................................................................

What I can do ............................................................................................................................

Yes to action, but not alone .......................................................................................................

5 Who do Europeans trust? ................................................................................................

6 What do Europeans propose? ......................................................................................

Greater environmental expectations ..........................................................................................

Due consideration .....................................................................................................................

Environmental governance .........................................................................................................

Carrot and stick ..........................................................................................................................

Problems are better known than solutions ... ..............................................................................

A few words on the survey

The results presented in this publication come from two opinion polls, chiefly Eurobarometer 58.0,

supplemented with the most relevant data from Flash Eurobarometer 123.

1. Eurobarometer 58.0 'The attitudes of Europeans towards the environment'

This survey, which is the largest in terms of the number of respondents, was conducted

between 1 September and 7 October 2002. It is part of the Eurobarometer series. The survey

is organised around every four years to obtain a clear idea of the way in which Europeans

perceive the various facets of the environment. A representative sample of citizens from

the 15 European Union countries was asked a series of questions in a one-on-one situation.

The latest questionnaire polled the opinions of 16,000 people.

The survey was coordinated by INRA Europe (International Research Associates, European

Coordination Office, Brussels).

2. Flash Eurobarometer 123 'Perception of Sustainable Development and environmental

concerns of Europeans'

The second survey, Flash Eurobarometer, was conducted on 6-15 April 2002. A representative

sample of 7500 Europeans was polled by telephone on their perceptions of sustainable

development and their environmental concerns.

The survey was conducted by Eos Gallup Europe.

Readers wishing to consult the surveys and the analyses based on the results or looking for additional

technical information (fieldwork dates, sample selection, weighting, etc) can refer to the full study

reports, which are available online.

Eurobarometer Survey :

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/barometer/index.htm

Flash Eurobarometer Survey :

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/barometer/flash_02.htm

http://www.eosgallupeurope.com/webreports/environment.htm

The total percentages presented in certain graphs and tables may exceed 100% where respondents can

give more than one answer to the same question. This total may also not be exactly 100%, but a figure

very close to it, as figures are rounded off.

How do Europeansperceive the 1

The environment is at the heartof the quality of life in Europe

The environment, like economic and social aspects,

influences the quality of life of Europeans. Everyone sees

these three factors as having a clear impact on well

being.

On average, the state of the environment is felt to be the

factor with the greatest impact on quality of life (index

67), followed by the economy (index 61) and social

factors (index 59).

The environment is part of life and one ofthe day-to-day concerns of Europeans. Itis a key factor when it comes to wellbeing and quality of life. Citizens want tosee a strong environmental policy.

Not at all = 0

Not much = 33

Quite a Lot = 67

Very much = 100 Environmental index

Economic index

Social factors index

6167

59

In your opinion, to what extent do the following factorsinfluence your quality of life?

The figures represent the European average

An index of opinion is presented here to enable a comparisonof the three factors (very much = 100; quite a lot = 67; not much= 33; not at all = 0). The indices vary quite profoundly from onecountry to another. In the Netherlands and Germany the valuesfor the three factors are weak (sometimes less than 50), whilethey are all much higher than 70 in Greece. The index for the state of the environment ranges from 49 in theNetherlands to 75 in France. The other countries are in the vicinityof the European average (67).

Source: Eurobarometer Flash 123 (Question 1)

environment?

The environment,a deep-seated concern

The word 'environment' evokes some negative and

some more positive images. A quarter of all respondents

identify urban pollution as the key image of the environ-

ment. That is followed by nature protection (22% of

respondents) and the state of the environment that

our children will inherit (14%). Pleasant green country-

side is the key image of the environment for 11% of

respondents.

How do Europeansperceive the 1

Our way of life under the spotlight

A great majority of Europeans (89%) are aware of the impact of humans on the environment. Some feel that its

deterioration can be halted (45%), while others say it is irretrievable (44%). A very small minority feels that humanity

lives in harmony with its environment (4%).

Which of these opinions comes closest to yours?

44%

45%

4%4%

2%

Human activity iscurrently in harmonywith the environment

The deteriorationof the environment

can be halted by changingour way of life

Human activity can leadto irretrievable damageto the environment

None of these(SPONTANEOUS)

Don't know

These figures represent the European average

environment?

The optimistic attitude ('the deterioration of theenvironment can be halted by changing our way oflife' (45%)) is more prevalent in Sweden (64%)and, to a lesser degree in Greece (54%) and inFrance (53%). It is also more widespread amongsenior executives (51%) and among those whohave continued their education beyond the age of20 (49%).

The pessimistic attitude ('human activity has led toirretrievable damage to the environment' (44%)) ismore prevalent in eastern Germany (54%) and inDenmark (54%).

Source: Eurobarometer 58.0 (Question 38)

What is it that worriesEuropeans?2

Images of the environment vary. But the sources of worryremain the same, whatever the country of origin ofrespondents. For some years there has been growingconcern about damage to the environment.

Nuclear power and industrial risks worry one intwo Europeans

The biggest worries for respondents are nuclear-related and industry-related risks. Those risks have come to overshadow

other more 'traditional' concerns, such as air pollution, natural disasters, various types of water pollution and the

destruction of tropical forests.

At present, are you very worried, fairly worried,not very worried or not at all worried about the following topics?

(Overall results in descending order of % of 'very worried')

0 10 20 30 40 50

Nuclear power and radioactive waste 50Disasters caused by industrial activities 45

Air pollution 44Natural disasters 43

Pollution of tap water 43Pollution of underground water 43

Pollution of seas and coasts 42Pollution of rivers and lakes 42

The progressive elimination of tropical rain forests 41The destruction of the ozone layer 39

Climate change 39The use of other chemical products 38

The extinction of animal and plants species 37Industrial waste management 37

The use of pesticides 36Using up natural resources that cannot be easily replaced 35

Pollution from farming 31The use of genetically modified organisms 30

Acid rain 29Domestic and urban waste management 22

Urban problems (traffic, public transport, green spaces, etc.) 21Environmentally friendly consumption habits 18

Noise 18Hunting and shooting 17

Damage caused by tourism 17


Worries identical for all Europeans

Nuclear and industrial risks head the list, followedby more 'traditional' worries.

In the middle of the list are more recent problemssuch as the destruction of the ozone layer and climatechange, as well as older problems that have a highprofile in the media, such as pesticides and pollutionfrom farming.

At the bottom of the list are concerns related toboth new issues (GMO) and issues that have to adegree slipped out of the public mind (acid rain).Here we also find problems that have a somewhatvague environmental impact, such as noise, huntingand shooting and tourism.

Source: Eurobarometer 58.0 (Table 3)


1999-2002, concerns are growing

By and large, Europeans are increasingly worried about the damage being done to the environment.

The 2002 survey again addresses 25 problems related to the environment. Compared with the 1999 poll, concerns

are growing about each and every one of them, except when it comes to urban problems. The three subjects of

major concern in 1999 (from the choices proposed at the time) are air, water and soil pollution; the destruction

of the ozone layer; and the elimination of tropical forests.

The subjects that are of increasing concern (% of 'very worried' responses in 1999 and 2002)

0 10 20 30 40 50

3544

2243

3242

2742

3941

2737

3537

2321

1517

1017

1999

2002

Air pollution

Natural disasters

Pollution of seas and coasts

Pollution of rivers and lakes

The progressive elimination of tropical forests

The extinction of animal and plants species1

Industrial waste management

Urban problems(traffic, public transport, green spaces, etc)2

Hunting and shooting

Damage caused by tourism

1 The 1999 formulation was also different: 'The extinction in the world of plants, animal species or natural environments' 2 1999 Formulation: 'Urban problems (urban traffic, noise, pollution)'


Worries about natural disasters have gained most ground among Europeans (+21), followed by the attackson the natural environment, as well as fauna and flora (rivers and lakes +15, seas and coasts +10, animal andplants species +10, air pollution +9).


The countries of southern Europe are becomingmore concerned about their environment

The countries of southern Europe are generally more worried about their

environment than the countries of northern Europe. Greece, Italy and

Portugal (but not Spain) are shown to be more worried about the problems

mentioned than heavily industrialised countries such as the Netherlands,

Sweden and Finland.

While support for the protection of the environment was born in the

industrialised countries of northern Europe, it is now winning over the

citizens of southern Europe.

So, in general, Greece is now the Member State where concern is greatest,

while it is weakest in the Netherlands.


National worries - Shedding light on some member states

Austrian (57%) and Irish citizens (52%) are relatively more worried than the othersas to nuclear risks. Germany is very sensitive to the risks of natural disasters (55%),but the situation at the time of the survey may have played a role.

The Danes are more attentive to water-related problems (tap water 52% andunderground water 56%).

Germans are a little more preoccupied than others by the destruction of the ozonelayer (42%) and climate change (44%).

France is more marked by a fear of the risks of chemical accidents (51%), but thesituation at the time of the survey may have made its mark on the results. Finally,hunting and shooting is an issue mentioned more often (27%) by Britons than by theothers, but once again the issue was in the news at the time the poll was taken.


At present are you very worried,fairly worried, not very worried or not at all worried?(% of 'very worried' responses in the member states)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Greece 58

Luxembourg 44

Italy 44

Portugal 41

France 41

United Kingdom 32

Austria 31

Germany 30

Denmark 30

Spain 26

Ireland 26

Belgium 26

Sweden 25

Finland 24

Netherlands 21

The figures represent the average concerns per Member State

The most worried people are generally women and people in the age group 55 and over.

Natural disasters are a greater worry to those with a lower level of education. In contrast, peoplewith a higher level of education are rather more concerned about the elimination of tropicalforests and the extinction of plants and animal species.

Are Europeans informed ? 3

Not everyone is equal when it comesto information ...

When it comes to the environment, Europeans feel they are ratherunder informed. While certain subjects are well known to the public,such as 'natural disasters,' 'air pollution' and 'climate change,' othersremain more obscure, such as 'industrial waste management,' 'the useof genetically modified organisms' and 'the use of other chemicalproducts.'

The survey reveals that, on average, only four Europeans in

ten feel that they are sufficiently well informed. Clearly, an

enormous information drive is needed.

There are major differences between countries. Some coun-

tries feel they are well informed, especially when the aver-

age age of education leavers is high, such as Finland,

Denmark and the Netherlands. In other countries in which

the duration of education is shorter, such as Ireland,

Portugal and Spain the feeling of information is weaker. That

does not explain the low level of information observed in

France however.

Could do better

European citizens are unaware of many environmental problems. There are new problems (such as GMO) and

old problems (such as acid rain) that are either too technical (industrial waste or chemical products), or still

poorly perceived (damage caused by tourism, pollution of underground water or use of pesticides). So efforts

do have to be invested in these areas.

Would these unknown themes arouse the most concern? It would not appear so. Europeans do not neglect

these issues because they are afraid of them.

On the contrary, Europeans feel sufficiently well informed on such themes as natural disasters, air pollution, climate

change, urban problems or the destruction of the ozone layer. Many of these subjects, by the way, had a very

high profile in the media at the time of the survey.

Are Europeans informed ?3

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Natural disasters 64

Air pollution 53

Climate change 53

Urban problems (traffic, public transport, green spaces, etc) 52

Destruction of the ozone layer 52

Domestic and urban waste management 49

Pollution of seas and coasts 48

Environmentally friendly consumption habits 46

The extinction of animal and plants species 46

Pollution of rivers and lakes 46

The progressive elimination of tropical forests 45

Noise 45

Pollution of tap water 43

Disasters caused by industrial activities 42

Hunting and shooting 39

Using up natural resources that cannot be easily replaced 39

Pollution from farming 39

The use of pesticides 38

Nuclear power and radioactive waste 38

Pollution of underground water 37

Acid rain 35

Damage caused by tourism 34

The use of other chemical products 32

The use of genetically modified organisms 30

Industrial waste management 29

For each of these topics, can you tell me if you feel very well,fairly well or very badly informed?

(Overall results in descending order of % of 'very well + fairly well informed')


Degrees of information

The first group of themes are those for which more than 50% of Europeans feelthey are 'very well ' or 'fairly well informed'. These include natural disasters, air pollution,climate change, urban problems and the destruction of the ozone layer. This categorygathers together relatively old and so familiar themes (air pollution for example),or issues related to current events that consequently have a very high profile in themedia (climate change).

The second group (42-49% of Europeans 'fairly well' to 'very well informed') comprisesproblems that are a little more complex or that have a lower profile in the media(extinction of species or destruction of forests).

Europeans are less informed (fewer than 40%) on themes that have left the mediaspotlight (acid rain) or that are of a more industrial nature (chemical products,GMO, industrial waste).


Europe follows the small screen

Men generally claim to be better informed thanwomen.

On several subjects, young adults (15-24 years)claim to be well informed more often than the 55years and older age group.

People with a lower level of education feel lessinformed when problems are global and veryscientific in nature, as in the case of problems todo with the ozone layer, climatic warming,deforestation and nuclear issues.

For eight Europeans in ten, television continues to be the choice of media

for getting environmental information. Five in ten prefer newspapers.

Next are films and documentaries (25%), magazines (21%), radio (20%)

and conversations with close relations (14%).

European citizens would seem to be relatively passive when it comes to

environmental information. The information channels that demand active

and personal action (Internet, conferences, exhibitions) are not mentioned

as often. Likewise, environmental protection associations are rarely mentioned

by citizens as a source of information.

Are Europeans informed ?3

What are the main sources of information on the environment?

0 20 40 60 80 100

Television

Newspapers

Films/documentaries

Magazines

Radio

Conversations with parents/family/friends/neighbours/colleaguesSpecialist environmental protection

associations or charities (Greenpeace, etc) Publications/brochures/information material

Books

Internet

Schools/educational institutions

Events (conferences, fairs/exhibitions, festivals, etc)

Public authorities

Others (SPONTANEOUS)

I am not interested in the environment (SPONTANEOUS)

Don't know

81%

52%

25%

21%

20%

14%

10%

7%

6%

6%

5%

3%

3%

1%

1%

1%


The countries of northern Europe (Sweden,Finland, Netherlands, Germany) gather informationmuch more often through newspapers or radiothan the other countries.

Young adults (15-24 years) read fewer newspapers,but consume more films and Internet.

People with a higher level of education read moremagazines and watch less television than those witha lower level of education.


Are Europeans committed 4

What I can do

'Can my individual action have an impact on theenvironment?' Europeans are divided on theissue. Half are optimistic, half pessimistic.'Environmental public-spiritedness' certainly has anumber of followers, especially in northernEurope, but has yet to win over a majority of citizens.

to action?

To what extent do individuals feel that their actions can have an impact? Half of the

respondents believe that 'the environment is a field in which I am unable to act',

whereas the other half hold that 'the environment is a field in which my actions can

make a real difference'.

The member states are grouped in one of the two scales of this balance. In the countries

of northern Europe (Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, but not

Denmark), citizens are more confident about their capacity to change things. The more

southern countries (France, Greece, Italy) are characterised by a more pessimistic feeling.

% of responses on two opinions (I am unable to act and my actions make a difference)relating to the capacity to make an impact on the environment through personal action

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Finland

Sweden

Belgium

Luxembourg

Germany

Austria

Netherlands

Portugal

Spain

Denmark

Ireland

United Kingdom

Italy

Greece

France

All

I am unable to act

My actions make a difference

Other responses

Between effectiveness andpowerlessness

There is a weak but significantlink between the feeling ofbeing informed on the environ-ment and the confidence aperson has in being able todo something.


Are Europeans committed 4

Yes to action, but not alone

For 65% of Europeans, the solution comes through the accumulation of the

individual actions of everyone. Only 12% of respondents say, 'I am making

an effort to take care of the environment and it is having an impact'. The

opposite attitude ('I am not making an effort to take care of the environment,

because it doesn't have any impact as long as others do not make any

effort') is shared by 10% of Europeans.

Which of these statements best reflects your personal situation?

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

12%

65%

10%

8%

2%

2%

1%

I am making an effort to take care of the environment,but it will only have an impact if others also make an effort

I am making an effort to take care ofthe environment and it is having an impact

I am not making an effort to take care of the environment,because it doesn't have any impact

as long as others do not make any effort

I don't know what to do to take care of the environment

None of these

Don't know

I don't care about environmental issues (SPONTANEOUS)


to action?

Attitudes towards environmental actions : one forall and all for one?

Shedding light on some Member States

24% of Finnish people and 22% of Swedish peopleare proactive and confident about their individualefforts. The concerted action attitude (efforts butonly if others make efforts too) is more frequent inDenmark (74%), Greece (74%), Belgium (72%)and France (72%).

The refusal attitude (no efforts because othersdon't make them) is especially prevalent in Spain(22%) and Portugal (16%).

People with a higher level of education are morelikely to adopt a concerted action attitude thanthose with little education.

Most young adults (15-24 years) are more likely toadopt a refusal attitude than their elders.


Who do Europeans trust ?5

Are Europeans distrustful? While they are not really able to

use them as a source of information, Europeans say that they

trust the environmental protection associations most (48%).

Scientists are also popular (35%), as well as consumer

associations (23%), relegating television into fourth place

(18%). Among political institutions, the European union

comes in first place in terms of trust, followed by national

and regional governments.

The business community is in last place in the league of

trust.

Who do you trust when it comes to environmental issues?

0 10 20 30 40 50

Environmental protection associations

Scientists

Consumer associations and other citizens' organisations

Television

European Union

National government

Teachers at school or university

Regional/local government

Political parties standing for environment (Greens, etc)

Newspapers

Family/neighbours/friends/colleagues

None of them (SPONTANEOUS)

Don't know

Radio

Trade Unions

Companies

48%

35%

23%

18%

13%

12%

12%

11%

10%

9%

7%

7%

6%

4%

2%

1%


Who believes what?

Generally the countries of northern Europe are better informed, more trusting and less concernedabout environmental problems.

The level of trust is generally the same in all countries.

However, young adults (15-24 years old), even those who have a higher level of education, aremore trusting of teachers, scientists and environmental protection associations.

Citizens who state that they are on the right of the political spectrum are on average less trusting(40%) of environmental protection associations than those who are on the left (59%).


What do Europeans propose 6

The citizens of Europe clearly and unanimously want to see environmental policiesgiven the same weight as economic and social policies. For them it is clear that thedecision-makers do not give due consideration to the environment. One in threeEuropeans feel that Europe is the most appropriate level of authority here. Citizenswant to see a carrot and stick approach.

Greater environmental expectations

Europeans very much want to see decision-makers give due consideration to the environment when they are

developing their policies. Almost 9 in 10 Europeans (86%) would like to see the environment given as high a priority

as economic and social policies.

86%

11%

3%

In your opinion, should decision-makers accord the same importanceto the environment as they do to economic or social policies?

Yes

No

Don't know


Greener!

People everywhere feel that the environ-ment should carry great weight in theformulation of policy, although there aresome variations. Expectations are a littlelighter in Denmark (76%), and particularlyheavy in Italy (95%), Portugal (93%) andLuxembourg (92%).


Only one European in five feels that decision-makers take sufficient account of the environment

when formulating their economic and employment policies. This appreciation varies significantly

from one country to another, as this opinion is shared by only 14% of Italians and, at the other

end of the scale, by 44% of Greeks.

?

Due consideration

In your opinion, do policy-makers considerthe environment as much as they should when deciding

policy in other areas such as the economy and employment?

75%

5%

20%

Yes

No

Don't know

0 20 40 60 80 100

Greece

Belgium

Netherlands

Luxembourg

Germany

Denmark

Ireland

Portugal

Sweden

France

Finland

United Kingdom

Austria

Spain

Italy

European average

Give the environment more consideration!

In answering the question 'In your opinion, do policy-makers consider the environment as much as they should whendeciding policy in other areas such as the economy and employment?', men are more positive (22%) than women(17%). Respondents are more critical when they have a higher level of education.



Environmental governance

A third of Europeans think that the European Union is 'the most appropriate

level for taking decisions to protect the environment'. That's encouraging

considering the weight the European Union carries here. Indeed, it's the origin

of more than 80% of current environmental legislation in the Member States.

Next are the national and local levels and the United Nations. The regional

level, which does not embrace the citizens of all Member States, occupies

fifth place.

?

Which level do you think is best for taking decisionsto protect the environment?

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

European Union 33%

National government 30%

Local government 27%

United Nations (UN) 21%

Regional government 18%

Don't know 14%

Others (SPONTANEOUS) 2%


Level of environmental governance


The citizens of the Netherlands (52%), Belgium (43%) andItaly (42%) support the implementation of environmentalpolicy at European level.

In Sweden (57%) and Denmark (43%) citizens prefer to givethis power to national governments. The Greeks (49%) andthe French (46%) prefer local government.


When respondents are asked to select solutions from a list, almost one citizen in two (48%) states a preference

for statutory measures. They want European and national legislation to be stricter, with harsher penalties for violators.

Hot on the heels of this solution comes education and a higher profile: 'raising the general awareness on the environment'

(45%). The restricting approach is again in third place (40%): 'better enforcement of existing environmental legislation'.

And fourth place (36%) is occupied by the principle of 'polluter pays' in the shape of 'only taxing those who cause

environmental problems'. Finally, one European in four (24%) feels that the greater involvement of non-governmental

organisations and associations active in the protection of the environment is a good solution.


Carrot and stick

In your opinion, which of the following would make it possibleto most effectively solve environmental problems?

0 10 20 30 40 50

Making national/European Union regulations stricter,with heavy fines for offenders

Raising general environmental awareness

Better enforcement of existing environmental legislation

Only taxing those who cause environmental problems

Giving more say to environmental NGOs/ associations seekingto protect the environment in the decision-making process

Higher financial incentives to industry, commerce and citizens

Don't know

Higher taxes, prices, etc for all to cover environmental costs

Relying on initiatives from industry, farmers, etc

Others (SPONTANEOUS)

None of these (SPONTANEOUS)

48%

45%

40%

36%

24%

14%

7%

6%

6%

1%

0%


The leading solutions


Greece (62%), the Netherlands (61%)and Sweden (57%) favour 'stricterregulations' more than the others.

The Swedes also prefer the idea of'raising general environmental aware-ness' more than the others (74%, asopposed to the European average of40%).

French citizens show greater supportfor 'polluter pays' than the others(49% as opposed to 36% on average).

In Italy 'giving more say to environ-mental NGOs' is more prevalent thanit is in the other countries (33%,while the European average is 24%).

Those with a higher level of educationtend to favour the awareness-raisingsolution (50% as opposed to 36%for those who did not continue theireducation beyond the age of 15).


?

Problems are better known than solutions…

It is interesting to observe that almost three Europeans in four consider that they know

more about environmental problems than they do about the solutions to them. Only a

minority (7%) feel they know more about the solutions than about the problems.

Do you feel that you know more about environmental problemsor environmental solutions?

73%

7%

20%

Environmental problems

Environmental solutions

Don't know


Knowledge of problems or solutions?

The only feature that distinguishesthe responses of citizens of differentMember States is the higher degreeto which people in Portugal (28%)and Ireland (27%) answer 'Don'tknow'. People who have no educationbeyond the age of 15 find it moredifficult to state an opinion thanthe others (27% as opposed to anaverage of 20%).

These results underline the impor-tance of the information providedto citizens and the authority thatsupplies it.


European Commission

The environment? What Europeans think - 2002

Luxembourg: Office for official publications of the European Communities

2003 - 36 p. - 21 x 29.7 cm

ISBN 92-894-4778-8

14KH

-49-02-393-EN-C

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