| 英文摘要 |
In order to understand the environmental awareness, attitudes, and behavior among the general public and students at various levels, we have proceeded with this survey. The results from this study will be used as the basis in designing environmental educational programs. We interviewed members of the general public and students in the 23 cities and counties in Taiwan through telephone or face-to-face interviews from May 22nd to June 12th, 2006. The final valid samples included 1,628 members of the general public, 1,270 college students, 1,216 senior high school students, 1,226 junior high school students, and 1,222 elementary school students.
Lists of significant results:
A. Most interviewees agreed with the idea of environmental protection.
1. More than 83% of the interviewees agreed that “overlypursuing economic growth would cause environmental problems”. Moreover, over 96% of the interviewed public and senior high and college students agreed that “protecting our environment is of urgent need.” (Interviewees who are junior high and elementary school students skipped this question.)
2. About 82% of the general public and over 55% of the students agreed that “they would rather lower their living standards for environmental protection.” The highest agreeing rate was 79% among college students, while the lowest was 56% for junior high school students. Additionally, more than 78% of the interviewees agreed that “government shall levy environmental protection fees or taxes on people who pollute.”
3. More than 86% of the interviewed junior high and elementary school students agreed that “protecting the living environment is more important than economic development. Less than 37% of them disagreed with this statement.
B. Senior high school and college students have more knowledge about environmental protection than general public do.
1. General awareness of living environment
1.1 More than 79% of the interviewees understood that “the one-time-use dinnerware are not good for environmental protection”. Among those interviewees, 95% of senior high school students knew this concept, while only 79% of the general public did.
1.2 More than 85% of the students were aware that “nuclear energy is not a recycled resource.” Over 63% of the general public and students understood that “trash shall be classified into three categories: recyclable, kitchen waste, and non-recyclable trash. Among those interviewees, 75% of the college students answered this question correctly while 63% of the public did.
1.3 More than 73% of the students knew that the “Environmental Protection Logo” represents green consumption. Above 77% of interviewed general public and students knew that products with the recycle mark should be recycled. More than 83% of interviewees had an understanding that green consumption means purchasing environmentally friendly products that are recyclable, low-polluting, or resource-saving.
2.Awareness of environmental problems
2.1 More than 70% of the interviewed general public and students knew that over-pumped gasoline would cause leaking gas fumes and air pollution. Above 79% of the students were aware that the major cause of acid rain is air pollution.
2.2 More than 60% of the senior high school and college students knew that water pollution is a result of human activities. They also knew that because of the eutrophication of reservoirs or lakes, our drinking-water safety is threatened.
2.3 More than 89% of the general public and students realized that over-pumping underground water is the main reason that causes subsidence in the western seaboard of Taiwan.
3. Awareness of environmental protection actions
3.1 Less than 44% of the students knew that water fountains in school campuses shall be washed and cleaned every month. Above 66% of the general public and students knew that water towers or water storages in their houses should be cleaned and maintained every six months.
3.2 More than 90% of the interviewed public and students would notify Environmental Protection Bureau or Agriculture Bureau when sighting fire ants. More than 86% of the interviewees knew that the most effective way to prevent dengue fever is cleaning out dirty water in all containers.
3.3 Only 27% of the interviewees knew the national environmental protection service phone number 0800-066666, email or website www.epa.gov.tw for filing environmental pollution cases.
4. Awareness of international environmental issues
4.1 About 37% of the public have heard to the Kyoto Protocol, among them 42% were aware that the Kyoto Protocol is an agreement to reduce signing nations’ emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. About 56% of senior high school and college students knew this agreement and understood carbon dioxide is the cause of greenhouse effect. Compared to 91% of senior high school students who answered this question correctly, only less than 36% of the public and elementary school students did.
4.2 About 45% of the public and more than 62% of students understood that the damage of the ozonolayer would result in skin’s over-exposure to the UV rays.
C. Putting into practice environmental protection measures, high school and college students practiced less and the general public did more.
1. Based on this survey, more than 80% of the interviewed general public usually practice such environmental protection activities, as sorting and recycling daily trash, recycling the discarded fluorescent lights and dead batteries, turning off electricity and water not in use, cleaning containers with dirty water, and not wasting food to preserve natural resources, etc.
2. More than 60% of the elementary and junior high school students usually turned off lights and water not in use. Compared with the general public, senior high school and college students performed much less environmental protection activities in their daily lives.
D. Television is the main source for the public and students to obtain knowledge about environmental protection. As for elementary school students, family members are their main sources.
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