CONCERNS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT DATA FROM ROSE, THE RELEVANCE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION COMPILED BY SVEIN SJØBERG AND CAMILLA SCHREINER, 23. AUGUST 2008 CONTENTS 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 2 The importance of environmental challenges ................................................................................................... 3 Can I do something? Will I pay the price? ........................................................................................................... 6 Empowerment: Can I make a difference? ........................................................................................................... 9 Optimism or pessimism? Is it too late? ............................................................................................................. 11 Responsibility of Rich and poor countries ....................................................................................................... 15 General Trust and belief in science? ................................................................................................................... 16 Should we leave the environmental issues to the experts and scientists? ......................................... 20 The rights of animals and sacredeness of nature ......................................................................................... 23 Future work: With environmental issues, or with animals? .................................................................... 26 Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 1 INTRODUCTION In this document, we present simple univariate data from ROSE (Details about the study, as well as publications, at http://www.ils.uio.no/english/rose/ ) Section D in the ROSE instrument concerns the environmental challenges, and reads like this: “Me and the environmental challenges”,
To what extent do you agree with the following statements about the problems
with the environment (pollution of air and water, overuse of resources, global
challenges of the climate etc.)? (Give your answer with a tick on each line. If you
do not understand, leave the line blank)
Each question is answered by a tick on a 4‐point Likert scale, from Disagree to Agree. In the following, the sum of the two “agree” alternatives are shown, in per cent of the total valid responses. Mean values are shown for girls and boys, and the countries are sorted (mainly) on the basis of the Human Development Index (with some consideration of geographical/cultural proximity). In this document, the data are given without any comments or discussion, but the items are sorted under separate headings by the contents of the items. (i.e. not by the sequence in the questionnaire) We have also included some data from other sections of the ROSE instrument, when we consider these to have relevance for these issues. Most of the data have not been published, and should only be used with reference to the ROSE project and the authors. Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 2 THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D10. People should care more about
protection of the environment
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 3 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D8. People worry too much about
environmental problems
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 4 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D3. Environmental problems are exaggerated
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 5 CAN I DO SOMETHING? WILL I PAY THE PRICE? Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D1. Threats to the environment are not my
business
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 6 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D5. I am willing to have environmental
problems solved even if this means sacrificing many
goods
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 7 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D9. Environmental problems can be solved
without big changes in our way of living
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 8 EMPOWERMENT: CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE? Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D6. I can personally influence what happens
with the environment
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 9 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D12. I think each of us can make a significant
contribution to environmental protection
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 10 OPTIMISM OR PESSIMISM? IS IT TOO LATE? Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D14. I am optimistic about the future
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 11 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D7. We can still find solutions to our
environmental problems
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 12 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D2. Environmental problems make the future
of the world look bleak and hopeless
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 13 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D17. Nearly all human activity is damaging for
the environment
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 14 RESPONSIBILITY OF RICH AND POOR COUNTRIES
Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D11. It is the responsibility of the rich
countries to solve the environmental problems of
the world
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 15 GENERAL TRUST AND BELIEF IN SCIENCE? Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean G13. Scientists follow the scientific method
that always leads them to correct answers
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 16 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean G15. Scientists are neutral and objective
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 17 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean G14. We should always trust what scientists
have to say
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 18 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean G8. Science and technology can solve nearly
all problems
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 19 SHOULD WE LEAVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES TO THE EXPERTS AND SCIENTISTS? Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D4. Science and technology can solve all
environmental problems
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 20 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D13. Environmental problems should be left to
the experts
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 21 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean G10. Science and technology are the cause of
the environmental problems
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 22 THE RIGHTS OF ANIMALS AND SACREDENESS OF NATURE Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D15. Animals should have the same right to
life as people
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 23 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D16. It is right to use animals in medical
experiments if this can save human lives
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 24 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean D18. The natural world is sacred and should
be left in peace
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 25 FUTURE WORK: WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, OR WITH ANIMALS? Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean B4. Working in the area of environmental
protection
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 26 Uganda
Ghana (Centr)
Lesotho
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Philippines
Bangladesh
India (Guj)
India (Mumb)
Malaysia
Trinidad & T.
Turkey
Greece
Portugal
Spain (Bal)
Russia (Kar)
Poland
Czech Rep.
Latvia
Estonia
Slovenia
Austria
Germany
Ireland
Scotland
N. Ireland
England
Japan
Finland
Iceland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mean B3. Working with animals
Sjøberg and Schreiner: ROSE data related to environmental challenges Page 27