Russians report improvements in environmental situation, according to the recent VCIOM-Sputnik survey data; however regarding the future negative forecast prevails over the positive one.
MOSCOW, July 31, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey describing how Russians assess the environmental situation.
Over the recent decade environmental assessments have improved: today 50% of Russians (vs 38% in 2010) think that the environmental situation in their place of residence is favorable. Forty-seven percent negatively assess the situation (those who point to environmental degradation are mainly residents of Moscow and St Petersburg (56%) rather than those living in small towns and rural area (42-43%)).
Every fourth (24%) marks positive changes in environmental situation over the recent years (only 10% in 2009-2010). However, about a third of respondents (35%) still assess the changes in a negative way; 39% believe that the situation is the same as it was five years ago.
Lower levels of concerns are recorded across all the points of the list of unfavorable environmental conditions, but as before the pollution of lakes and reservoirs (52% in 2005; 37% in 2017) and air pollution (49% and 36, respectively) hold the positions. The major concerns also involve pollution of drinking water (22%), deterioration in human health (22%), deforestation, reduction of park areas (20%).
Expectations from the future have become more optimistic: the share of those who think that the environmental situation will improve in several years has increased from 7% in 2010 to 17% in 2017; the share of those who oppose them has decreased from 39% to 28%. Centrist positions have strengthened: 48% of respondents (vs 40%) believe that no substantial changes will occur.
Today Russians consider that the body responsible for environmental situation should not be the federal government (27% in 2010 – the first ranking) but local (25%) and regional (23%) authorities. Additionally, more ordinary citizens recognize their environmental responsibilities: an increase from 12% to 25%.
2017 was declared the Year of Ecology in Russia. The survey data suggest that today about a quarter of Russians are aware of that (26%).
The Medialogia Company conducted an analysis of environment-related mentions in the Russian media: over three years more than 1.2 mln mentions were published. Most of them were made in March and April 2017 (Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev visited the Franz Josef Land and assessed the results of its environmental cleanup; Sergey Ivanov announced the need to connect all Russian garbage trucks to GLONASS system; ecology became one of the major topics at the “Truth and Justice” Media Forum).
The VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide survey was conducted on July 20-21, 2017. The survey involved 1,200 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 3.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Results for the 2005-2010 studies are based on household surveys.
The Russian media publications were monitored and analyzed by the Medialogia Company using the company’s media database involving approximately 41,600 media sources such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, news agencies and online media. The study took place from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2017.
How would you assess the environmental situation in your community, city/town? (closed-ended question, one answer %) | |||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2017 |
Generally favorable | 7 | 6 | 20 |
Rather favorable | 32 | 32 | 30 |
Rather unfavorable | 49 | 47 | 31 |
Very bad, close to catastrophe | 9 | 13 | 16 |
Don’t know | 3 | 2 | 3 |
In your opinion, how has the environmental situation in your community, city/town changed over the recent five years? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2017 |
Rather improved | 10 | 10 | 24 |
Not changed | 43 | 43 | 39 |
Rather deteriorated | 41 | 43 | 35 |
Don’t know | 6 | 4 | 2 |
What does the environmental degradation in your place of residence consist in? (closed-ended question, not more than 5 answers, %) | |||
| 2005 | 2009 | 2017 |
Pollution of lakes, reservoirs | 52 | 44 | 37 |
Air pollution | 49 | 44 | 36 |
Poor drinking water, pollution of drinking water | 39 | 32 | 22 |
Deterioration of human health | 38 | 38 | 22 |
Deforestation | 28 | 27 | 20 |
Local area unsanitary condition | 35 | 30 | 19 |
Harmful effects of chemicals in food | 18 | 12 | 16 |
Climate change | 18 | 13 | 15 |
Extinction of certain bird, fish and animal species | 13 | 8 | 9 |
Noise pollution | 12 | 15 | 9 |
Elevated levels of radiation | 21 | 8 | 7 |
Acid rain | 13 | 6 | 7 |
Other | 2 | 2 | 7 |
The environmental condition in my community is stable and is not deteriorating | 7 | 14 | 18 |
Don’t know | 2 | 3 | 2 |
In your opinion, how will the environmental situation change in your place of residence in two or three years from now? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2017 |
Likely to improve | 8 | 7 | 17 |
No change | 43 | 40 | 48 |
Likely to deteriorate | 35 | 39 | 28 |
Don’t know | 14 | 14 | 7 |
In your opinion, what body/agency should be responsible for the environmental situation in your place of residence? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||
| 2010 | 2017 |
People themselves | 12 | 25 |
Local authorities (city/district administration) | 23 | 25 |
Regional authorities (governor, regional head) | 14 | 23 |
Federal authorities, central government | 27 | 10 |
Special government bodies (Ministry of Natural Resources, environmental police, Ministry of Emergences, et cet.) | 17 | 8 |
Enterprises | 2 | 3 |
Non-profit organizations including environmental protection organizations | 2 | 2 |
Don’t know | 3 | 4 |
Every year Russia declares a year to be devoted to certain topic to raise public awareness of most important issues. For instance, 2014 was declared as the year of culture in Russia. Do you know what 2017 was devoted to? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and more |
Environment | 26 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
Sport and physical culture | 9 | 20 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
Russian cinema | 6 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
Volunteer, volunteering | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Entrepreneurship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Other | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
I don’t know | 46 | 40 | 48 | 45 | 47 | 47 |
Hard to tell | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory! The use of the Medialogia system content, fully or partially, must be accompanied by the reference to the Medialogia Company.