Environment issues a growing worry to citizens, says poll

Date: 03/04/03

By Karen Carstens

EU CITIZENS are more worried about environmental issues today than they were four years ago, with nuclear safety topping the list of concerns. They also trust businesses least when it comes to protecting the natural world, a Eurobarometer survey has found.

Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom pledged to take the results into account in future policy initiatives. 'This survey shows that more needs to be done,' the Swede said. Based on questions put to 16,000 citizens in the 15 member states last autumn, the survey is the EU's first official poll on environmental issues since 1999.

It reveals an increase in public concern on questions where comparisons could be made. For example, 44 of respondents are 'very worried' about air pollution, compared with 35 in the previous survey, and 42 see pollution of rivers and lakes, as an important issue - up from 27 in 1999.

More respondents (50) are 'very worried' about nuclear power and radioactive waste - more than any other topic - followed by major industrial accidents, air pollution, natural disasters and tap-water pollution.

Climate change, at 39, was in 11th place, 30 of respondents had fears about 'use of genetically modified organisms', and concerns over environmentally friendly consumption tallied 18. Overall, respondents were split virtually 50/50 when asked to choose whether they identify more with statements emphasising the potential for irretrievable damage to the environment or the potential for tackling such damage.

Another noteworthy development was that northern Europeans have been overtaken by their southern counterparts when it comes to environmental concern.

Greeks were the most concerned about the state of the environment, followed by Luxembourgers and Italians. Least concerned are the Dutch, followed by Finns and Swedes.

At the same time, northern Europeans feel much better informed about environmental issues than southerners. Finland, Denmark and Luxembourg top those who felt most informed, with Portugal, Spain and France the least.

In terms of their level of engagement in protecting the environment, more than three-quarters of respondents said it was 'high'. But they were also evenly split between those who feel their actions make a difference and those who feel it is beyond their control. People feel most empowered in Finland, Sweden and Belgium and least in Italy, Greece and France.

In keeping with previous polls, environmental groups are the most trusted on environmental issues, with 48 of respondents giving their 'trust' vote to NGOs, followed by scientists and consumer associations. Trust in the EU institutions measured just 13, closely followed by national governments at 12, political parties at 10 and companies, which garnered a mere 1.

When it comes to who should protect the environment, however, the EU gets a thumbs up from one-third of Europeans.

While 33 of respondents said the EU should best take decisions on protecting the environment, national governments came in a close second at 30. This was followed by 27 for local government and 20 for the United Nations. However, very few people appreciate how far environmental policies in Europe already stem from the EU - just 13 think this applies to over half of legislation in their countries.

l MORE than half of citizens from candidate countries believe genetically modified organisms in food are dangerous, another Eurobarometer poll revealed this week. The findings on attitudes of the EU's prospective members to science, showed that 52 believe there are real risks from GMO food, compared to 54 in the current EU.

Just over half of the future members (51) also believe GMOs could have negative effects on the environment, the report said, adding that 85 expect clear information on what they are being sold in restaurants and supermarkets.

However the poll showed candidate countries are less hostile to animal testing than today's EU. More than half (63) said they support animal testing if it helps resolve human health problems, compared to 22 in the current 15 member states.

EU citizens are more worried about environmental issues today than they were four years ago, with nuclear safety topping the list of concerns. They also trust businesses least when it comes to protecting the natural world, a Eurobarometer survey has found.