21 September 2015
The survey was conducted by Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and sociological service of the Razumkov Center from 22 till 27 July 2015. 2011 respondents aged 18 and older were interviewed in all regions of Ukraine except for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Theoretical sampling deviation does not exceed 2,3%.
Environmental part of the survey was conducted at the request of International charitable foundation “Environment-People-Law”.
- Ukrainian population defined as the most serious environmental problems on regional and national levels pollution with solid domestic waste (59%), pollution of ambient air with emissions (44%) and bad drinking water (42%). Considerably smaller segment of population is concerned about consequences of the Chornobyl disaster (32%), forest destruction and globally noticeable climate change problem (29% and 28% respectively).
- Majority of Ukrainian population do not see environmental component as an indispensable component of the concept of “sustainable development”. Instead, people understand sustainable development mainly as a result of economy or GDP growth (52%). Only 27% of citizens understand the concept of sustainable development as “balance of interests of economy, environmental protection and society”.
- Regarding the question whether economic growth is possible without causing harm to the environment opinions divided like this: 43% of respondents believe it is possible, 38% say no. Also, there are regional differences in these opinions: population of West and Central Ukraine consider economic growth is possible without causing harm to the environment (West – 50%, Center – 47%, opposite opinion have 34% and 32% respectively). However, in East and South Ukraine and in particularly in Donbas majority of respondents believe that economic growth is not possible without harm to the environment (47% in East, 43% in South and 47% in Donbas, opposite opinion have 40%, 35% and 34% respectively).
- Assessment of environmental situation on local level is moderately optimistic: 70% of respondents consider it absolutely safe (9%) or at least normal (61%). There are considerable regional differences regarding this question: in East regions and Donbas 33% and 34% respectively characterize the economic situation as unfavorable and even critical.
- In the context of perception by Ukrainian population of the notion “environmental rights” there is notable negligence of democratic and legal component of this notion. Majority of citizens perceive environmental rights purely as the right to environment that is safe for human life and health (72%) while only small part of Ukrainian population understand environmental rights as public participation in development and realization of environmental protection actions (30%), grouping people in nature protecting organizations (21%) or as free access to environmental education (16%) etc.
- Results of the survey prove critically low level of citizens’ engagement to environmental initiatives. Only 1% of Ukrainian population consider themselves as active participants of environmental movements while 89,7% of citizens of Ukraine have no experience of participation in such movements and initiatives whatsoever. 93% respondents reported lack of any experience in defense of their environmental rights. Almost third of the population (30%) reported their reluctance to protect their environmental rights.
- A positive signal is readiness of Ukrainian population to apply in their everyday life, in particular in agriculture, certain practices that may have positive impact on the environment or at least limit negative impact on them. For example, 73% of respondents are ready to economize electricity and water, about half of the respondents are ready to buy energy saving equipment (46%) and insulate their houses or apartments (51%), 41% are ready to segregate domestic waste with the aim to improve environmental situation.
- The part of population involved into agricultural production majority (75%) prefer organic fertilizers while 16% of people working in agriculture prefer chemical fertilizers. 41% confess that use chemical insecticides to combat beetles, caterpillars and weeds.
- Ukrainians’ attitudes to hunting are either neutral (36%) or negative (31%). 18% of Ukrainians have positive attitude to hunting and 3% are hunters themselves. In the attitude to hunting there are significant gender differences: women are more inclined to condemn hunting (44%) than men (27%).
- Ukrainians consider the most effective way of decreasing the number of homeless animals is sterilization (40%) or increasing responsibility of owners – registration of home animals and their chipping (32%). Euthanasia of homeless animals is acceptable for only 11% of respondents (mostly in the East – 23%).
RESULTS OF THE SURVEY
- What is sustainable development for you?
1 – balanced interests of economy, environment and society in the course of decision making regarding new construction projects 26,6
2 – constant growth of economy and gross domestic product (GDP) | 52,1 |
3 – lack of changes | 6,5 |
4 – other | 0,3 |
5 – undecided | 14,5 |
2. How do you understand the notion “environmental safety”?
1 – t is a term from science | 7,9 |
2 – it is a term from industry | 11,5 |
3- it is a definition of such a state of environment that guarantees prevention of deterioration of environmental situation and human health | 70,1 |
4 – undecided | 10,5 |
3. Do you think economic growth of a country is possible without causing harm to the environment?
1 – yes, economic growth is possible without causing harm to the environment | 43,0 |
2 – no, economic growth is always harmful for the environment | 38,7 |
3 – undecided | 18,3 |
4. What environmental problems of the region/country do you personally care about?
1 – climate change | 27,8 |
2 – hazardous emissions in the ambient air | 43,8 |
3 – state of military objects that remained from former USSR | 10,4 |
4 – pollution of the environment with domestic waste | 59,0 |
5 – consequences of Chornobyl disaster | 32,3 |
6 – low quality water | 42,3 |
7 – degradation of soils | 14,9 |
8 – forest destruction | 29,1 |
9 – other | 1,1 |
10 – undecided | 2,0 |
5. Do you think the environmental situation in your village/city/country has impact on your life and health?
1 – yes, serious impact | 22,6 |
2 – yes, some impact | 56,1 |
3 – almost no impact | 17,0 |
4 – undecided | 4,3 |
6. How would you define the environmental situation in your village/city?
1 – absolutely safe | 9,3 |
2 – in general normal although there are certain reasons for concern | 61,5 |
3 – generally unsafe | 21,8 |
4 – critical, crisis | 4,7 |
5 – undecided | 2,7 |
7. Who do you think is the owner of all natural resources of Ukraine (land, water, flora and fauna)?
| 23,8 |
| 11,1 |
| 51,6 |
| 13,5 |
8. What are for you “environmental rights”?
1 – environment that is safe for health and life | 71,6 |
2 – public participation in discussion of issues of construction and reconstruction of objects that may have impact on the environment, making proposals for public authorities | 31,2 |
3 – public participation in development and realization of environmental protection measures, rational use of natural resources | 29,9 |
4 – people unite in nature protecting organizations | 21,4 |
5 – free access to true information on the state of environment | 34,5 |
6 – free access to environmental education and knowledge | 15,5 |
7 – the right to address the court with suits demanding compensation of harm caused to their health and property as a result of adverse impact on the environment | 25,8 |
8 – the right to challenge in court decisions, actions or omissions of authorities and officials regarding violation of environmental rights of citizens | 28,9 |
9 – undecided | 7,9 |
9. Whom will you address in case of violation of your right to healthy and safe environment?
1 – court | 19,2 |
2 – police | 11,9 |
3 – prosecutor’s office | 11,7 |
4 – local authorities | 20,3 |
5 – our member of Parliament | 5,9 |
6 – our deputy in the local council | 11,1 |
7 – mass media | 22,5 |
8 – NGO | 11,4 |
9 – other | 1,1 |
10 – I will not address anyone | 29,6 |
11 – undecided | 14,9 |
10. Have you had any experience of protecting your environmental rights, either positive or negative?
1 – yes, and I managed to protect my rights | 2,0 |
2 – my attempts were unsuccessful | 3,9 |
3 – no experience | 93,1 |
4 – reluctant to answer | 0,9 |
11. Have you had any experience of participation in environmental movements?
1 – yes, I am an active participant of environmental movement | 1,1 |
2 – sometimes I participated in some environmental activities, sometimes helped to organize them | 8,3 |
3 – no, I do not have any experience of participation in environmental movements | 89,7 |
4 – no answer | 1,0 |
12. Are you ready to bear some financial expenses for improvement of environmental situation in your town/city?
1 – yes, considerable expenses | 2,5 |
2 – yes, but not considerable expenses | 31,6 |
3 – no | 52,2 |
4 – undecided | 13,6 |
13. What activities enumerated below you personally are ready to perform?
| 51,3 |
| 45,5 |
| 72,6 |
| 15,3 |
| 26,1 |
| 41,3 |
| 29,4 |
| 11,7 |
| 32,1 |
| 35,1 |
| 0,7 |
| 5,1 |
14. Do you put away your rubbish after spending time outdoors (in forest, at a lake)?
| 65,5 |
| 15,6 |
| 1,1 |
| 17,6 |
| 0,2 |
15. What do you usually do with the rubbish after spending time outdoors?
1 – leave there | 0,8 |
2 – burn there | 13,7 |
3 – take with me and throw to rubbish bins | 51,2 |
4 – throw away on my way home | 11,8 |
5 – throw into the river | 0,2 |
6 – other | 0,7 |
7 – I do not spend time outdoors | 18,3 |
No answer | 3,5 |
16. Do you burn dry vegetation, domestic waste near your house, in your yard?
1 – yes | 49,6 |
2 – no | 50,3 |
No answer | 0,1 |
17. What is your attitude to hunting?
1 – positive, I am a hunter myself | 3,4 |
2 – generally positive although I do not hunt | 17,7 |
3 – neutral | 35,9 |
4 – negative | 30,7 |
5 – very negative, I am ready to fight against it | 5,8 |
6 – undecided | 6,6 |
18. What means of decreasing the number of homeless animals do you consider the most effective? One reply
1 – sterilization of home and homeless animals | 39,8 |
2 – euthanasia (painless killing) of homeless animals | 11,4 |
3 – increasing responsibility of owners – registration and chipping of home animals | 31,9 |
4 – other | 1,7 |
5 – undecided | 15,2 |
19. If you are involved into agricultural production, do you use chemicals (pesticides) to combat beetles, caterpillars, weeds?
1 – yes, I do | 41,4 |
2 – no, I don’t | 18,8 |
3 – I do not produce agricultural products | 39,6 |
No answer | 0,2 |
20. If you grow agricultural products do you know about organic fertilizers? % of those growing agricultural products
1 – yes, I do and I use them | 74,5 |
2 – I know but prefer chemical fertilizers | 16,1 |
3 – no, I know almost nothing about organic fertilizers | 9,1 |
No answer | 0,4 |
21. Are you interested to know what chemicals are contained in “household care products”, chemical fertilizers etc and their impact on human health and environment?
1 – yes, I always ask about chemical composition and impact on the environment and human health | 27,4 |
2 – in generally I am interested but know little about side effects | 39,0 |
3 – no, I am not interested, I care only about effectiveness of these products | 33,3 |
No answer | 0,3 |
© 2011-2015
Environment-People-law
All rights reserved
Mailing address: 79000, Lviv, P.O Box 316
tel./fax. +380 32 225 76 82
e-mail: office@epl.org.ua