Who Cares about the Environment?Who Cares about the Environment?20020099Environmental knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of the people of NSW

Sixth triennial surveySixth triennial survey

Overview

• Introduction to the research

• Findings– Priorities, attitudes and values– Knowledge and views– Behaviours– In summary

• What’s next…

Research context• Sixth full round of research in social research series

• Survey conducted triennially since 1994

• Point in time snapshot plus adds to our understanding of longer term changes

• Qualitative component each year

Research designQuantitative telephone survey• 2,003 NSW residents aged 15yrs+; June-July 2009

• Geographically-stratified, random sample across NSW• Measure environmental knowledge, attitudes and

behaviours

Focus group discussions (qualitative)• 7 across metro and regional NSW; December 2009• Recruited from survey sample• Help explain survey results and understand community

segments

SURVEY FINDINGS

Priorities values and attitudes

Priorities for NSW Government

Environment remains in the top five issues for NSW government attention,

now and in the future

5

5

5

6

10

11

15

22

23

50

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Government performance

State budget/finances

The economy/economic growth

Other social issues

Unemployment

* Environmental group

Roads and traffic

Public transport/railways

Education

Health system

Percentage of respondents

2009 n=2003

Priorities for NSW Government attention at present – top 10

Back to 2003 level after 2006 peak of 16%

5%

Water has declined dramatically 12% 3%, not in top 10

Most important issue in ten years time – top 10

7899910

1818

2235

0 10 20 30 40 50

Water supply/water conservation/droughtAgeing population/ associated issues

UnemploymentOther social issues

Planning and developmentRoads and traffic

Public transport/railwaysEducation

Environmental groupHealth system

Percentage of respondents2009 n=2003

Similar to 2006 (24%)

From 2006: environmental group of issuesas a current priority, 16 11%

as a future priority, 24 22%

But still 5th as current, and 2nd as future, priority as in 2006

Environment as current and future priority –in summary

5%

5%

2%Reflects decline in water issues

All environmental issues seen as more important in future than present

Younger people/students more likely to nominate the environment as a current and future priority

Concern about environmental problems

Are you concerned? Yes 78% No 22%

34

25

43

42

9 13

2211

2006

2009

A Great Deal A Fair Amount A little No

How concerned?

Compared to 2006: 87% concerned

Why concerned?

Prompted list - responses read out to respondent

38

19

13

10

10

9

35

15

10

11

9

18

0 10 20 30 40 50

Concern for future generations

Maintaining ecosystems

Long-term economic sustainability

Health effects of pollution

Availability of resources we consume

Quality of life

% respondents concerned environmental problems 2009 n=15542006 n=1511

Dramatic decline -halved

Significant increases

Reasons for lack of concern

“The problem is not as bad as they say”2006 6% 24% in 2009 – quadrupled

…..replaced as top reason:

“Low priority compared to other issues”2006 21% 12% in 2009 – almost halved

7

10

11

16

8

20

12

13

57

5

10

10

12

14

17

17

23

42

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Development and planning

Other pollution

Water pollution/ water quality

Forest/bushland/ biodiversity

Waste

Air pollution/air quality

Energy

Climate change

Water supply, conservation,management/drought

2006 2009

Percentage of respondents

15%

10%

5% Climate change plus sub-themes in energy with climate change implications = 38%

The most important environmental issues in 2009(two most important)

7

10

11

16

8

20

12

13

57

5

10

10

12

14

17

17

23

42

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Development and planning

Other pollution

Water pollution/ water quality

Forest/bushland/ biodiversity

Waste

Air pollution/air quality

Energy

Climate change

Water supply, conservation,management/drought

2006 2009

Percentage of respondents

3%

Air pollution has dropped to 4th issue (from 2nd) for first time

5% Waste bounced back to close to pre-2006 levels4%

Biodiversity issues have dropped to 6th (from 3rd) for first time

The most important environmental issues in 2009

14

10

10

9

9

7

5

4

4

3

2

1

9

6

19

8

4

8

5

5

5

3

2

5

Energy and greenhouse

Education

Water supply, conservation &management

Regulation

Government strategies

Vegetation and biodiversity

Public transport

Waste

Air quality / air pollution

Development, population and planning

River management

Water quality / water pollution 2009 2006

What should NSW Government do?

Energy and greenhouse initiatives highest

5%

Replacing water which has almost halved 9%

14

10

10

9

9

7

5

4

4

3

2

1

9

6

19

8

4

8

5

5

5

3

2

5

Energy and greenhouse

Education

Water supply, conservation &management

Regulation

Government strategies

Vegetation and biodiversity

Public transport

Waste

Air quality / air pollution

Development, population and planning

River management

Water quality / water pollution20092006

‘Traditional’ issues, air and water quality and waste declined further

Education significant increase

4%

What should NSW Government do?

Knowledge and views

Climate change - knowledge

• Half of NSW residents knew that greenhouse effect is not caused by a hole in the earth’s atmosphere

• Steady increases in knowledge each survey since 1994

• 48% knew electricity generation in NSW is a bigger source of carbon pollution than transport (new question)

24

31

36

40

41

51

0 20 40 60 80 100

1994

1997

2000

2003

2006

2009

Percentage of respondents

Correct answer

The greenhouse effect is caused by a

hole in the Earth's atmosphere (F)

Climate change – beliefs

78% believe climate change is happening or will happen

Impact• 76% think it will have a great deal or a fair amount of

impact on them or their children

• 23% think there will be little or no impact

Timing• 46% think we are feeling impacts now or they will be felt

in less than 5 years

• 31% think impacts won’t be felt for at least 20 years

Climate change - belief about action

69% agree NSW should take urgent action on climate change, regardless of current

economic and social conditions

Knowledge – other issues39% knew industrial sites and sewerage treatment

facilities cause less water/beach pollution than rainfall runoff (new question)

35% know more water is used for agriculture in NSW than domestic and manufacturing combined(no change since 2006)

32% know recycling paper, cardboard and glass saves materials as well as water, energy and fuel(slight increase from 2006)

Optimism about changes in the environmentPeople who said things

better in last 3 years

Reducing electricity use 48%

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40%

Reducing water consumption 74%

Encouraging alternatives to motor vehicles 34%

Ensuring enough water flowing in rivers 27%

Protecting and conserving Aboriginal cultural heritage 50%

20%

7%

6%

9%

15%

8%

16

10

10

7

17

14

10

24

26

22

26

31

40

37

47

54

41

40

53

51

49

41

36

34

25

24

23

8

11

12

11

5

11

10

11

14

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Property development / constructionindustry

Mining industry

Manufacturing industry

Retailing industry

Forestry industry

Individuals and households

Tourism industry

Farming and agriculture

Recreational and commercial fishing

Too strict About right Too lax Not sure

Attitudes towards environmental regulations

Views on regulation vary according to the sector

About half think it is about right

About half think it is too lax

About a quarter think it is too strict

Reliability of environmental information sources – top 7

11

15

12

17

23

22

21

23

40

38

31

31

36

39

53

49

58

54

62

56

64

58

48

43

54

52

51

45

25

19

20

17

12

10

9

9

6

6

10

8

8

7

9

9

8

7

1

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

3

2

7

1

5

2

11

4

8

3

10

2

7

3

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

2003

2009

2003

2009

2003

2009

2003

2009

2003

2009

2003

2009

2003

2009

Percentage of respondents

Very reliable Fairly reliable Fairly unreliable Very unreliable Hard to say

Local councils

National environment and

conservation organizations

Community service groups

Schools

Scientists and technical

specialists

Govt depts or agencies

Local environment and conservation

groups

Conservation groups trusted by the most people

The most trusted group in 2003 –declined by 7%

Increase in very reliable since 2003

Reliability of sources of environmental information sources – next 4

4

3

2

4

8

7

17

16

32

32

34

32

41

32

54

48

42

39

40

34

32

30

23

23

18

17

20

18

14

17

4

4

3

9

3

12

5

15

3

9

0 20 40 60 80 100

2003

2009

2003

2009

2003

2009

2003

2009

Percentage of respondents

Very reliable Fairly reliable Fairly unreliable Very unreliable Hard to say

Religious leaders

and churches

Business and industry

Members of your family or friends

Media personalities

Rated unreliable by more people than rated them reliable

Majority agreed with specific measures:

70% supported greater involvement of Aboriginal people in environmental management and conservation

Even where they might impact on people:

85% strongly agreed/agreed that some areas of the marine environment should be protected

52% agreed with rivers and wetlands getting enough water to stay healthy

Views on specific environmental propositions

− strongly agree from 2006 11% 18%7%

Personal behaviour

Getting into the environment –national parks visitation

66% had visited a national park in the last year

from 59% in 20067%

People 25-34, those with university or technical education and those employed were more likely to have visited in the past year

Everyday environmental behaviours - trends

4745

39

404041

5250

49

384849

3048

54

6263

61

63

6575

70

7073

82

0 20 40 60 80 100

Composted food and/or garden refuse orused a worm farm

Avoided products with excess packaging

Chosen better household products

Reduced fuel consumption / vehicle airpollution

Avoided plastic bags to carry shopping home

Decided to re-use rather than throwing away

Reduced the amount of food the householdthrows out

Reduced water consumption

Reduce energy consumption

Often

Peaked in 2006, now lower

Upward trend

Big jump in 2006 with higher fuel prices but has maintained

Everyday environmental behaviours - trends

4745

39

404041

5250

49

384849

3048

54

626361

63

6575

70

7073

82

0 20 40 60 80 100

Composted food and/or garden refuse orused a worm farm

Avoided products with excess packaging

Chosen better household products

Reduced fuel consumption / vehicle airpollution

Avoided plastic bags to carry shopping home

Decided to re-use rather than throwing away

Reduced the amount of food the householdthrows out

Reduced water consumption

Reduce energy consumption

Often

Not changing through surveys

Declining trend,40% never done

Uptake of these behaviours increases with age

Occasional environmental behaviours

202120

3636

2725

353841

3846

635251

6773

0 20 40 60 80 100

1994

2006

2009

1997

2000

2006

2009

1994

1997

2000

2006

2009

1994

2006

2009

2006

2009

Percentage of respondentsYes

Participated in local development or

environmental issues

Purchased an energy-efficient appliance

Tried to get information on an environmental

topic or issue

Tried to encourage someone to change an activity or practice that

was harmful to the environment

Took part in a Landcare, Bushcare, tree planting or other

restoration project

About a quarter are participating in local issues and a fifth in active restoration projects

6%

Significant increase in seeking environmental information (8%)

Information sources – top 8

2

2

2

1

6

6

14

59

1

1

4

5

12

7

13

3

3

5

6

9

18

22

72

0 20 40 60 80

TV (news or not further specified)

Courses / seminars / workshops

Friends and family

Books

State government department or local council

Newspapers / magazines

Publicly available printed brochures and publications

Internet

Percentage of respondents who accessed information in last year

First triedOther tried

Of those who said they sought out environmental information – they overwhelmingly used the internet

Demographics - gender differences

Concern: women more likely to be concerned a great deal about the environment (27% vs 22%) and to express any concern (81% vs 74%)

Optimism: on most environmental issues, women more likely to say the situation had improved over last 3yrs

Behaviour: women engaged in greater # household behaviours (average 5.8 out of 10 vs 5.1 for men)

Knowledge: men had greater environmental knowledge –answered average 2.3 out of 5 correctly vs 1.8 for women

Community segments analysis

Three segments identified based on engagement in environmental behaviours

Committeds (38%)High on both householdand citizenship behaviours

More likely to be:• female• university graduates• live in rural areas

Privates (32%)High on household but low on citizenship behaviours

More likely to be:• female• retired• not completed Yr 12• have children

Reluctants (21%)Low on both household and citizenship behavioursMore likely to be:• male• aged 15-24• live in Sydney

0.81 0.78

0.30

0.66

0.14 0.16

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0 Household-basedbehavioursCitizenship behaviours

Behaviours score

SummaryEnvironment in top five as current and future priority for NSW Government

Water conservation and management issues have declined substantially across a range of questions

Climate change and energy issues have continued to increase as environmental issues and initiatives

More than ¾ believe climate change is happening or going to happen and 69% agree the NSW government should take urgent action

Concern about environmental problems has dropped

More people are more positive about a range of environmental indicators

People continue to engage in a range of environmentally friendlybehaviours, with increasing participation in energy conservation and avoiding plastic bags, decreased water conservation and composting

Next steps

Seminar series during March:

Sydney seminars: Four city seminars for different sectors [government,local government, business, community organisations]

Regional seminars: Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Lismore, Armidale, Orange,South Coast, Queanbeyan, Wagga Wagga

What’s next (cont)Research products:

Main report (survey only)Who Cares? at a GlanceWho Cares? - Qualitative reportDemographic Fact sheetsDemographic Tables

www.environment.nsw.gov.au/community/whocares.htm

Get your staff, colleagues, workplace using the results. Apply the findings to your issues.

Published by:Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW 59–61 Goulburn Street, SydneyPhone: (02) 9995 5000 (switchboard)Fax: (02) 9995 5999 TTY: (02) 9211 4723

Email: info@environment.nsw.gov.auWebsite: www.environment.nsw.gov.auDECCW 2010/532July 2010