2007 Survey Of Public Attitudes And Behaviors Toward The Environment
A 2007 survey conducted by Britain’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, gives insight into the attitudes and thoughts of the British. The top four issues that people think the government should deal with include crime, health, education, and environment. Biodiversity and animal welfare issues were also covered on a subsequent follow up survey. (The relevant survey parameters presented in this record relate to this portion of the survey.)
The top four issues that people think the government should deal with include crime, health, education, and environment. Among the most significant findings:
- About one-fourth of respondents believe that “it takes too much effort to do things that are environmentally friendly” and “I don’t believe my behaviour and every day lifestyle contribute to climate change.” Roughly half of all respondents disagreed.
- About 75% believe that a major impact could be made on the UK’s contribution to climate change if more people recycled, or used less transportation.
- 60% believe that UK citizens are willing to recycle a lot more, although less than one fifth believe that a lot of UK citizens are willing to use less transportation.
- The proportion of people recycling glass, paper, etc. has almost doubled since the year 2001.
Biodiversity and Animal Welfare: Public opinion on these issues is addressed in a short follow up survey that included definitions preceding each question: (Wording excerpted from survey)1. Farm animal welfare means things like:
- How farmers look after and breed animals
- How farm animals are transported
- Conditions at market and livestock sales
- Exports of live farm animals
- Conditions at slaughterhouses and abattoirs
2. Biodiversity is the variety of living things and the natural environments that support them. Loss of biodiversity means loss of species of living things through development, pollution, or natural processes. Among the related findings: The thought given to biodiversity and animal welfare issues (a great deal/a fair amount/a little/have not thought about this issue before):
- Farm animal welfare (16%/24%/32%/27%)
- Loss of biodiversity in the UK (6%/25%/36%/32%)
- Loss of biodiversity in the world (9%/26%/34%/30%)
Other Biodiversity Related Findings:
- 71% of garden owners agreed that “they actively encourage wildlife in their garden”
- Slightly more than one-quarter agreed that “there is nothing they can personally do to help stop the loss of the world’s biodiversity,” while 10% agreed that “we can afford to lose some of the world’s biodiversity.” A third of people strongly disagreed with this statement.
Farm Animal Welfare Findings:
- 37% were happy with all or most aspects of farm animal welfare in this country
- Of the remainder, when prompted with a list of specific issues and asked which was their biggest concern, 30% said “how animals are kept on the farm,” 28% said “how they are transported,” and 19% said “exporting of live farm animals.”