Public Concern about Environmental Issues: 2006
Relative importance of environmental issues (percentage of respondents)
Relative importance of environmental issues (percentage of respondents) |
| Most important | 2nd most important | 3rd most important |
|---|
Reducing our contribution to climate change/global warming | 23 | 19 | 14 |
|---|
Addressing how to meet our energy needs | 16 | 16 | 15 |
|---|
Increasing the levels of recycling | 13 | 13 | 21 |
|---|
Reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill | 9 | 15 | 15 |
|---|
Ensuring that the water in our rivers and lochs is of a high quality | 11 | 15 | 12 |
|---|
Management of radioactive waste | 15 | 9 | 11 |
|---|
Improving air quality | 7 | 9 | 7 |
|---|
Reducing the risk of flooding | 4 | 3 | 4 |
|---|
Respondents to the April/May 2006 wave of Ipsos MORI's Scottish Social Policy Monitor 3 were asked to rate the relative importance of eight environmental issues facing Scotland. The chart above shows the results. Out of the eight issues, reducing our contribution to climate change/global warming, addressing how to meet our energy needs, and increasing the levels of recycling were considered the three most important issues. Reducing the risk of flooding was considered the least important of the issues mentioned.
Respondents were asked about what action they took to help protect the environment. The most common action undertaken by respondents was recycling household waste. Around two-thirds of respondents said that they did this 'a lot' and 4 in 10 said that they walk, cycle or use public transport rather than a car 'a lot'.
Source: Scottish Government