A recent
report from the Danish EPA concluded that Danes
have considerable knowledge about the environment,
but a second report concluded they are less knowledgeable
about climate change.
Environment
On average people answered 82% of questions correctly
when asked about the connection between their
day-to-day lives and the environment and about
how to take care of the environment.
However, in some areas they
were less knowledgeable. For instance people are
uncertain whether diesel or gasoline cars cause
particle pollution (63% correct). 73% are aware
that it is possible to economize on fuel by driving
carefully.
Almost everyone (97%) agrees
it is important or very important to take care
of the environment. But the more we zoom in from
general to personal obligations to act in a specific
way, the less the agreement.
Most of the respondents believe
the civil society (citizens, industry and agriculture)
rather than politicians and the authorities, should
take responsibility for the environment. In this
matter the majority does not try to "pass
the buck".
There is a strong connection
between attitude and behaviour; stronger than
the connection between knowledge and behaviour.
Therefore campaigns should probably focus on changing
attitudes rather than providing information.
Climate
People are less knowledgeable about the climate.
On average, respondents to a
general-knowledge quiz about climate change gave
59 percent right answers. However, respondents'
knowledge on how to prevent climate change was
slightly better, with 64 percent correct answers.
For example, respondents' understanding
of the term greenhouse effect was often mixed
up with the concept of ozone depletion. Likewise,
emissions of greenhouse gasses were frequently
mixed up with the emissions of ozone-depleting
gasses. In fact, the burning of fossil fuels was
hardly ever associated with the term greenhouse
effect. Almost 50 percent expected the government
to be able to prevent climate change.
Respondents had a very favourable
attitude towards measures to reduce or stop global
warming, but not surprisingly measures involving
personal cost or inconvenience were less popular.
Young people were more favourable about taxes
on fuel than older people (who more frequently
own cars).
On average respondents carried
out 60 percent of the environmentally protective
behaviours mentioned in the survey. Despite this,
prevention of global warming was rarely cited
as a motive. The likelihood that a person will
perform environmentally protective actions increases
with age, family status (children in household)
and level of education.
It is interesting to note that
a high level of knowledge about climate change
does not appear to have any significant correlation
with behaviour. One group of practically oriented
citizens seems to be largely unaware of climate
change, but nevertheless they are engaged in a
number of activities that, coincidentally, reduce
carbon dioxide emissions. Another group of more
academic people are very knowledgeable but do
not turn this knowledge into preventive practices.
Since 2003, when the general
population's perception of climate change was
last surveyed, there seems to have been an increase
in awareness of the climate issue. The number
of respondents in favour of halting climate change
through international agreements has increased
from 44 to 66 per cent. The number of respondents
thinking that Denmark should take care of global
warming at home has risen from 13 to 24 per cent.
Thus, it seems that the public
debate on climate change, weather phenomena, and
interventions by individuals such as Bjørn
Lomborg have raised the general awareness of the
climate issue so people are more willing to prevent
climate change. People recognize the problem and
are aware of their personal responsibility. However
the older among us still do not want to use the
public transport as much as the young people,
and they are also less supportive about increased
taxes.
