Public attitudes
Grandmother knew best
Getting back into the habit of reusing as well as recycling
By Roseanna Cunningham
P
eople and communities are at the
What people think is the most important issue facing Scotland? What people think is the most important issue facing the world?
heart of efforts to create a cleaner, and what other issues they regard as important to Scotland? and what other issues they regarded as important to the world?
greener Scotland and to tackle the very real
threat posed by climate change.
The Scottish Government undoubtedly
has a role to play – both in terms of showing
leadership and in setting the policy frame-
work that will enable change – as do other
parts of the public sector, businesses and
NGOs.
But it is individual behaviour and com-
munity-led action that will drive forward real
and lasting change.
That’s why the results of our Scottish
Environmental Attitudes and Behaviours
Survey, published last week, are so impor-
tant. They give us the clearest picture yet
of exactly where we are and what more we grandparents in this respect. They wouldn’t for people to see climate change as a global
need to do. have thought of their behaviour as greener problem but not as an issue affecting Scot-
And, perhaps not surprisingly, there are but the things they did to save money – not land or their communities. But milder win-
causes for optimism as well as clear chal- throwing food out, using their own bags, ters and more floods mean the evidence is
lenges ahead. darning socks – would now be seen as eco- now on our doorstep and can no longer be
The main findings are: friendly. ignored.
Some greener behaviours are becoming We’ve stopped doing the things our Many people are already changing their
commonplace: 79 per cent hang up their grandparents would have done automati- behaviour – though some issues such as our
washing to dry instead of using tumble dry- cally and, while I’m not advocating a return dependence on the car remain a stubborn
ers; 63 per cent use energy-saving light bulbs; to an age of austerity, perhaps we have to tap problem – and in some communities they
67 per cent rarely or never leave a light on in into their inherent knowledge and get back are working together to effect change on an
a room; 76 per cent make use of kerbside into the habit of reusing as well as recycling. even bigger scale.
paper recycling; The buy-everything-new-then-chuck-it- Our Climate Challenge Fund has
Driving is still the most common mode away society that grew up in the 80s, when already benefited many communities, with
of transport for commuting and grocery
The b
null
uy-
the things you owned defined you, will come money given to 56 innovative and exciting
shopping;
everything-
to be seen as the anomaly in history. And projects such as the Comrie Carbon Chal-
The main barriers to green behaviour
new-then-
it’s turningout to have been a very expensive lenge which I visited recently. The project
are cost and convenience. anomaly in every way - for our climate and includes the redevelopment of the former
So, on the positive side, awareness of
chuck-
for our pockets. Cultybraggan Army Camp into sustainable
environmental issues is high. Many of the
it-away
Which brings me onto one of the big- homes, woodland and land for allotments,
behaviours which are becoming common- society that gest challenges thrown up by the survey – which means local food production, as well
place, such as using energy-saving light
grew up in
the Scottish public’s resistance to accepting as a street-by-street insulation project for the
bulbs, using electrical appliances less and
the 80s, will
climate change as an issue affecting them. whole village.
turning off lights, are those that are easiest
come to be
While 35 per cent accept the environment as By empowering communities in this
to adopt and those where people can save one of the most important issues facing the way and by encouraging individuals to take
money.
seen as the
world, that figure shrinks to just 12 per cent steps towards greener lifestyles, we can make
This suggests that the current economic
anomaly in
when asked about issues facing Scotland. real progress towards our ambitious climate-
climate gives us an opportunity to reinforce history We need to do more to help people change targets.
the message that a lot of greener behaviours understand that the Scottish environment is We cannot simply ignore what is hap-
we are trying to get people to take on board
will help their wallet as well as the environ-
null
part and parcel of the global environment, pening to the planet. If we do, then future
and what happens elsewhere in the world is generations will never forgive us for it. HM
ment. not unrelated to what happens in Scotland.
There’s much we can learn from our It’s tempting, and perhaps comforting, Roseanna Cunnigham is Minister for Environment
| www.holyrood.com | Special report: Environment | 23 March 2009 |
9
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24