The Environmental Protection Administration conducted four surveys in 2008 to evaluate and understand the following from the public: their impressions about the current environmental quality, identification extent with the environmental protection measures, views about indoor air quality and noise control, and knowledge of environmental protection among students. The findings of the surveys are to be used as reference for EPA policies of the future.
The first of this series was concerned with the public’s reception. It was to understand the feelings of satisfaction to comply with the policy the residents aged 20 and above. The survey was undertaken by use of phone calls during the period from April 17 to May 5, 2008. A stratified random sampling method was employed, with 5,749 valid samples to be collected, which had the margin of error of plus or minus 1.29 percentage points under the confidence level of 95%. The Findings of the Surveys:
1. Impressions about air quality: 52.7% of the interviewed reported having been bothered by outdoor air pollution over the last year, with the main source coming from emissions of cars and motorbikes. 22.7% said the air quality had improved over the past year, but 42.9% complained that they had been bothered by bad smells in the preceding year.
2. Impressions about community tranquility: 48.3% reported having been annoyed by noise over the past year, with the main source coming from traffic and the nearby neighborhood. Of the 48.3%, 64.6% said the noise situation had not improved, with the highest percentage of dissatisfaction going to that from traffic.
3. Impression about the quality of drinking water and rivers: 67.2% said that mainly because of poor tap water quality they had had water filters installed at home or had purchased mineral water as daily drinking water. 47.1% agreed that the government had made some achievements in protecting rivers while 66.2% hoped that the government could allocate more funds and human resources into river reconstruction projects.
4. Impressions about sanitation and waste: The interviewees indicated that they had bothered by seven sanitation items with a measurement of 1-3 scores out of a range of 1-5 scores, lower than that from the preceding year, showing the fact that the public thought sanitation had improved somewhat. 89.4% expressed satisfaction over household garbage disposal schemes, with a mere 7.9% giving a negative response. Their complaints centered around being not punctual on the part of garbage trucks and inconvenient disposal schedules.
5. Overall impressions about various environmental protection issues: The highest satisfaction rating went to classification of garbage for recycling while the lowest of that went to self-prepared environmentally friendly tableware and the use of environmental protection signs on products. 69.3% expressed approval of the government in promoting environmental protection programs. The priority task in the minds of the public was to control emissions of cars and motorbikes.
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The second of this series was concerned with the knowledge of environmental protection. It was to understand the awareness level of the knowledge of environmental protection among comprehensive and senior high school students as well as their counterparts in junior high and elementary schools.
The investigation was carried out by use of an in-class self-filled questionnaire during the period from April 21 to May 20, 2008. A two-level stratified random sampling method was employed, with 1,585 valid samples from senior high, 1,658 from junior high, and 1,588 from elementary (4-6 graders) to be collected, which had the margin of error was ±2.5 percentage points within 95% confidence interval. The subject of the investigation was divided into three aspects: attitudes toward the overall environment, awareness of environmental protection knowledge, and behavior toward environmental protection. Each category was given a score ranging from 5 points for the highest to 1 point for the lowest. The findings show:
1. Students in general took a positive attitude toward various environmental protection concepts, with senior high kids to be given an average 4.33 score, junior high 4.25, and elementary 4.24.
2. The awareness of environmental protection knowledge among students at various levels of schools was considered a medium and above level, with senior high children having a score of 3.59, while their junior high and elementary counterparts got a 3.48 and a 3.91, respectively. In brief, this knowledge level among girls was higher than that for boys.
3. As far as behavior toward environmental protection is concerned, the highest score went to elementary kids, at 4.00, followed by junior high children (3.69) and senior high students (3.63).
4. The source of the environmental protection knowledge was mainly from TV, school courses, textbooks, and reference books.
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The third of this series was concerned with the EPA policy measures. It was to understand the identification extent and willingness to comply with the policy measures already taken and to be taken among the residents aged 20 and above. The survey was undertaken by use of phone calls during the period from October 9 to October 28, 2008. A stratified random sampling method was employed, with 5,741 valid samples to be collected, which had the margin of error was ±1.29 percentage points within 95% confidence interval. The findings indicate:
1. The average awareness of 14 measures already taken by EPA was 64.4%, with the highest 84.7 % going to the campaign calling for an all-people energy conservation and carbon reduction.
2. The approval rate for the 14 already launched projects was at an average 91.3%. Among the 14, the promotion aimed at eradicating dengue-carrying mosquitoes winning the highest percentage of 97.6. The said rate among those who knew about the 14 measures was higher, from 3 to 14 percentage points, than that for those in the dark about the policy outing.
3. The support rate for eight EPA policy measures in the planning reached 87.8%, with the highest given to the control of indoor air quality in the public area (94.5%) and the evaluation and grading of the public toilet (94.5%).
4. An average 94.6% of the surveyed expressed willingness to carry out the 10 declarations on energy conservation and carbon reduction. The only item whose willingness-to-comply-with rate was lower than 90% was carbon reduction through use of fuel-efficiency cars, standing at 87.8%.
5. 65.4% of the public expressed satisfaction with the government performance in environmental protection over the last year. The top priority work in the minds of the public in the coming year is improvement in air quality and maintenance of sanitation.
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In addition, an investigation of indoor air quality and noise control was pursued this year, which aimed to assess general impressions of the residents aged 15 and above in the Taiwan area about indoor air quality, noise from decoration work and karaoke as well as their control measures. The survey for air quality control was conducted from November 9 to November 18, while that for noise control was done from November 5 to November 14. A telephone interview was held in both investigations. A stratified random sampling method was employed, with valid samples of1,272 and 1,604, respectively, to be collected, which all had the margin of error of plus and minus 2.75及 2.45 percentage points under the confidence level of 95%. The findings indicate:
Indoor air quality control -
1. The most frequently visited places were markets and trading areas, at 91.3%, among 14 public areas. The worst impression on air quality went to performing halls (movie theaters and KTV clubs), at 45.4%.
2. The public gave priority in control through legislation were medical places (37.0%). 3. An average of 91.4% expressed positive views about the EPA policy in which four measures in relation to the control of indoor air quality in the public areas are in the planning.
Interior decorations and non business oriented karaoke noise control-
1. About 75.3% said they would accept it as a good way of control that noise from work on interior decorations had to be stopped if reported to the authorities within certain specified times or penalty would be imposed. As far as the best times for the control of such noise, 14.5%, the highest, mentioned the period from 6 pm to 9 am the next day on the week days. As for the noon time during the week days, 26.7%, the highest, expressed positive views about the control time from 12 noon and to 2 pm. At least 46%, the highest, chose holidays as the days when noise should be fully controlled.
2. About 81.7% said they would accept it as a good way of control that noise from singing had to be stopped if reported to the authorities within certain specified times, and therefore singing itself had to be terminated, or penalty would be imposed. As far as the best times for the control of noise from karaoke bars, 14.7%, the highest, mentioned the period from 10 pm to 8 am the next day on the week days. As for the noon time during the week days, 25.6%, the highest, expressed positive views about the control time from 12 noon to 2 pm. About 61.5%, the highest, were of the opinion that control on holidays should be the same as that on week days.
