Indicator: HS-67 Environmental awareness

Data

Persons concerned about environmental problems in Australia, 1992-2004

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2004, Environmental Issues: People's views and practices, Cat. No. 4602.0, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, viewed 11 Oct 2005, http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/
Lookup/1A6BF897CD159D47CA256889000DE33B p.10

In 2004, 8.6 million Australians aged 18 years and over (57%) stated that they were concerned about environmental problems. This was a drop from 62% in 2001. The level of concern about environmental problems has shown a continual decline since 1992, when three-quarters (75%) of Australians stated they had environmental concerns.

People concerned about environmental problems – Percentage
Australia – 1992 –2004
	Capital City	Balance of State/Territory	Total
May 1992	75.2	74.1	74.8
June 1994	70.3	66.6	68.9
March 1996	69.2	67.1	68.4
March 1998 *	63.2	62.8	63.1
March 2001	61.7	63.1	62.2
March 2004	57.6	56.4	57.1

* Revised data based on March 1998 Monthly Population Survey. Previous data were based on discontinued Population Survey Monitor

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2004, Environmental Issues: People's Views and Practices March 2004, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, viewed 28 Nov 2005, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/
b06660592430724fca2568b5007b8619/989527f4629
91f5eca2568a90013933e!OpenDocument, p.16.

Generally, the level of concern is similar for people living in capital cities and the rest of the country.

Of the 57% of people who are concerned about environmental problems in 2004, 13% formally registered an environmental concern (via a letter, telephone, demonstration, signed petition or some other means), and 29% donated time or money to protect the environment. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of people with environmental concerns took neither of these actions.

Household purchase of environmentally friendly products (EFPs)
Australia – 1992-2004 (Proportion of households)
	1992	1998	2001	2004
Products with refillable containers	63.3	72.4	64.6	65.1
Unbleached paper products	63.4	52.2	51.3	46.3
Recycled paper products	67.9	71.1	69.8	66.7
Phosphate-free cleaning products	37.7	42.5	39.5	38.2
Organically grown fruit and vegetables		39.7	41.8	39.4
Does not buy any of the EFPs listed	9.1	7.7	9.4	10.4
Don't know	1.0	0.7	0.3	0.4*

* estimate is subject to sampling variability too high for most practical purposes
Note: Survey includes households that ‘sometimes' purchase environmentally friendly products

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2004, Environmental Issues: People's views and practices 2004, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, viewed 28 Nov 2005, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/
abs@.nsf/b06660592430724fca2568b5007b8619/98952
7f462991f5eca2568a90013933e!OpenDocument, p.65.

Environmental Issues: People's Views and Practices (Word - 131 KB)

What the data mean

There has been a decline since 1992 in the proportion of Australians concerned about environmental problems. The majority of those concerned with environmental problems do not take any action to formally register their concerns. There has been little difference in the proportion of households purchasing environmentally friendly products between 1992 and 2004.

Issues for which this is an indicator and why

Human Settlements — General responses provided to improve the environment - Public awareness

Public awareness of environmental problems is an indicator of how society as a whole will respond to negative impacts on the environment. This indicator provides data on the proportion of people concerned about the environment and their response to this concern.

Biodiversity — Utilisation and value of biodiversity - Incentives for biodiversity management

Public awareness of environmental problems may be an indicator of how people will respond to incentives for biodiversity management.

Other indicators for this issue: