Australia Environment Profile 2012

Environmental views

Lately, environmental issues have featured significantly in the media, as well as drought, bushfires, water improvement and protection, and climate change. An ABS survey in 2007-08 on environmental views and actions found that the majority Australians aged 18 and over (82%) were worried about environmental problems, and more than half (53%) believed the situation of the natural environment was deteriorating (graphs 2.6 and 2.7).

2.6 Whether concerned about any environmental problems

The population aged 18-24 years reported not as much worry about the environment than all other age groups - around 1/4 (26%) said they were not worried concerning the environment. relatively lower levels of concern were also reported by people without a non-school ability (24% not concerned), and people not in the labour force and those aged 65 and over (both 23%).

About 4/10 people (39%) thought the situation of the natural environment was neither good nor bad. People who were born overseas were much more likely than people born in Australia to say that the state of the natural environment was good (43% compared with 24%).
 

2.7 people who think the condition of the environment is declining

Almost 9/10 population showed anxiety about water shortages (89%). about ¾ (73%) of the Australians were worried about climate change and more than 2/3 (69%) about the accumulation and disposal of household waste (graph 2.8).

2.8 people concerned about environmental issues

Me, were less likely than women to be worried about environmental issues about water shortages, climate change and waste disposal. As example, 76% of women were worried about climate change, against 71% of men. Australians who were employed were likely to be more worried about environmental issues than those who were unemployed.

Environmental involvement

More than 5 million of the population aged 18 and over (34%) had participated in some form of environmental movement in the 12 months before the survey (graph 2.9). on the other hand, 2/3 Australians reported that they had not been concerned in any environmental activities during this period. The majority usually reported activity undertaken was signing a appeal relating to any environmental issues (17%), followed by donating money to help look after the environment (14%). merely 2% participated in a demonstration or rally on environmental protection.

2.9 Environmental activities involved in during the last 12 months

Those people whose personal gross weekly income was more than $2,000 were more likely to donate money to help protect the environment while those earning less were most likely to be involved by signing a petition on environmental issues (graph 2.10).

2.10 Personal gross weekly income

Electricity use

Most Australians (88%) reported that they took steps to limit their electricity use in the 12 months prior to the 2007-08 survey. Nearly half (47%) reported that they thought their personal electricity use had decreased in the last 12 months. The most common reasons given for why they thought their electricity use had fallen were that people had tried to conserve energy at home (80%) (graph 2.11).

2.11 REASONS PERSONAL ELECTRICITY USE DECREASED

Water use

In 2007-08, more than half of the population (55%) reported that they thought their personal water use had decreased in the 12 months prior to the survey. The most common reason given by people for a decrease in water use was that they had tried to conserve water at home (76%). More than four in ten (42%) said water restrictions had reduced their water use (graph 2.12).

2.12 Reasons personal water use decreased

Waste

Most Australians (82%) were satisfied with their waste collection services. Most Australians (84%) sorted recyclable from non-recyclable waste materials all or most of the time. One-third (33%) composted or recycled kitchen or food waste all or most of the time and four in ten Australians (41%) used green or reusable shopping bags all or most of the time (graph 2.13).

2.13 waste collection and disposal, frequency of