Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2012

This publication aims to provide an easily accessible reference document which offers information on a wide range of environmental topics. It covers key datasets on the state of the environment in Scotland, with an emphasis on the trends over time wherever possible.


Perceived Significant Environmental Problems: 2008

What is the most significant environmental problem? Other environmental problems?

(percentage of respondents)

(percentage of respondents)

The Scottish Environmental Attitudes and Behaviours Survey 2008[1] included a question to gauge which specific environmental issues are most prominent in the public mind. Respondents were asked (unprompted): a) what they considered to be the 'most significant' environmental problem these days; and b) what they saw as 'other' environmental problems.[2]

Climate change was by far the most common response - 41% of respondents in total mentioned the issue, and 27% identified it as the single most significant environmental issue. The next highest ranking issues were: changing weather patterns (mentioned by 19% overall), household waste (18%), CO2 emissions (15%), and over-consumption (15%). It could be argued that all of these issues are in some way related to climate change. Overall, 53% of respondents mentioned climate change, CO2 emissions or carbon footprint.

The Scottish Parliament passed the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009[3] with the aim of reducing Scotland's emissions by 80% by 2050. This includes all greenhouse gases.

Source: Scottish Government / Metadata

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