2011年12月27日星期二

Chileans less likely to help the environment on their own

The Center for Sustainability at Universidad Andres Bello  has concluded that this year Chileans have become more aware of environmental issues on the grand scale – not only more aware, but more inclined to voice their concern over social media or in protests.

While the awareness and concern on the grand scale has increased, when it comes to the individual, it is a different story. 800 residents of the Metropolitan, Valparaiso and Bio Bio regions were surveyed on a range of topics relating to the environment. These three regions account for 62 percent of Chile's population.

Issues such as HidroAysen have put questions of environment at the forefront of public opinion. While this is true for issues of large-scale debate, when it comes to tasks at home, Chileans have a different stance.

According to the study, 39 percent of respondents said they had never recycled, while 70 percent responded that it was not a habit and considered it cumbersome. As for energy-saving light globes, 90 percent of those surveyed said they used the globes, while only 10 percent said the use was to benefit the environment.

People in positions of executive management were considered by the study to have the worst attitudes towards environmental problems, while young people  were the least concerned and less willing to take action to combat pollution.

76 percent of respondents believed the best way to bring companies to task would be to fine polluters, even though there is currently no pollution monitoring authority in Chile and 63 pecent of those polled agreed that the current legislation should be strengthened.

Adriana Palacios, social psychologist at the Universidad Desarrollo told the La Tercera newspaper that "throughout the Chilean identity there is a difference, where the official discourse and practice shows an inconsistency."

Alex Godoy from the Center for Sustainability, the conductors of the research said the key problem was the higher prices of more environmentally friendly products. The high prices locked out low-income earners from making steps towards change, even if they were willing to make a change.

Despite 58 percent saying they would pay more for renewable energy, 62 percent answered that in the next five years more power plants should be built. Less than half of the respondents believed the current energy supplies will be sufficient for the coming years.

41 percent of the respondents said that the lack of motivation from the population stems from a lack of sufficient measures to combat pollution by the government and industry, while only 2 percent of those surveyed said that the environmental problems were over exaggerated.

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