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IP/02/826
Brussels, 5 June 2002
EU citizens worried about global environment trends
According to a special Eurobarometer Survey carried out in the fifteen Member States released by the European Commission to coincide with World Environment Day, concern about the future of the environment remains high among European citizens.
The survey shows that the vast majority of Europeans are worried about trends in areas like environment and health, nature and wildlife protection, waste and climate change.
7.500 citizens from all 15 Member States were interviewed for the survey between 6-15 April 2002.
EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström commented: "The signal from European citizens is crystal clear: they want politicians to do more both locally and globally - to protect the environment and to pave the way for genuinely sustainable development in the world".
The survey results reveal that 89% of Europeans surveyed are concerned about future trends in the field of environment and health (environmental pollution, chemicals, etc.). 86% are apprehensive about trends with regard to the use of natural resources and waste generation. 82% are concerned about trends relating to nature and wildlife. 72% of respondents are concerned about climate change.
EU citizens are also concerned about the state of the environment in their local community. Most common among the complaints was the problem of "traffic congestion and over-reliance on cars," which worried 50%. In addition, "damage done to the landscape" (40%), "the quality of water for swimming lakes, rivers, seaside" (40%) and "noise" (36%) also give cause for concern.
According to the results of the survey, the state of the environment is the factor that has the greatest impact on the quality of life of the Europeans surveyed, followed by the economy and social factors.
73% of Europeans surveyed believe that the environment influences very much or quite a lot quality of life compared to 64% who indicated economic and social factors.
However, Europeans believe that public policy-makers do not attach the necessary importance to environmental policy compared to other policy areas. For example, 75% of EU citizens feel that policy-makers do not think enough about the environmental dimension when deciding policy in other areas such as the economy and social policy.
86% agreed that public policy-makers should consider environmental policy just as important as economic and social policy, and hence strengthen the environmental component of the Sustainable Development equation.
World Environment Day 2002 is marked by the meeting of world environment leaders gathered in Bali to prepare the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in August/September this year.
"In an economically globalised world, the need to take environmental action at the international level is even more pressing", said Commissioner Wallström today at a Ministerial Meeting in Bali. The world is watching and expects us to deliver a focused agenda for change in Johannesburg.
Mrs Wallström added ". The question world leaders have to answer at Johannesburg this Summer is how do we harness globalisation for the good of all, especially for the poorest and for the planet? The EU must continue to play a leading role in devising international responses. We have to put our own house in order, because we consume a major share of the planet's renewable and non-renewable resources.The Commission is determined to make a constructive input to an ambitous outcome in Johannesburg to move the world agenda forwards and deliver on the promises of Rio."
The full results of the Flash Eurobarometer "Sustainable Development and environmental concerns of Europeans" are available on the web site of DG Environment:
http://europe.eu.int/comm/environment/barometer/index.htm
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