The Quality of the Environment in Bucharest in the Citizens’ Opinion

1. The Quality of the Environment in Bucharest in the Citizens’Opinion IRSOP Market Research & Consulting Ltd. October 2009 Bucharest

2. Content Page 1. Introduction 3 2. The quality of the environment 6 3. The Public Agenda 9 4. Causes 15 • Influencing the individual 17 • Influencing the community 22 • Recruiting allies 26 • Conclusions and recommendations 29

3. 1. Introduction

4. Survey details • The survey was conducted by IRSOP for the project “Strengthening Environmental Governance in Bucharest”, a project developed in partnership by APDD – Agenda 21, Askim Commune in Norway, the Municipality of Bucharest and the Bucharest School Inspectorate. • The project has been financed from a grant made available by the Government of Norway, by means of the Norwegian Cooperation Programme for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Romania. • In the interval 16-22 September, 2009, IRSOP conducted 517 interviews with a representative sample for the population of 1.6 million adults over 18 living in Bucharest. • Method used: Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI). • The error margin of this survey is ± 4.4%. • IRSOP is a social and market research institute established in 1990.

5. Referential market Total population 1.94 mil. 756,000 HH Bucharest Target population 18+ 1.66 mil. Source: INS Bucharest, 2009 (figures slightly rounded)

6. 2. The quality of the environment

7. % Good 4 Acceptable 25 Rather poor 29 Very poor 42 Good Poor Dramatic vision of the public about the quality of the environment in Bucharest Based on the question“In your assessment, what is the current state of the environment in Bucharest?” Opinion about the quality of the environment Poor 71% Good 29% Base 517

8. Most believe that the environment has deteriorated and continues to deteriorate Based on the questions“As compared to 2 or 3 years ago, would you say the state of the environment in Bucharest has stayed the same, has got better, or has got worse?” and “And what about a year from now, do you think the state of the environment in Bucharest will be the same, better or worse?” A year from now Compared to 2-3 years ago Base 517 Base 517

9. 3. The Public Agenda

10. Top of mind Waste, shortage of green spaces and pollution are the city’s major environmental concerns Based on the questions“In your opinion, what is the most serious environmental concern for the city of Bucharest?” and “And what other environmental concerns is Bucharest confronted with?” Key clusters Obtained by grouping concerns into "families" of concerns, by colour code Base517 Multiple answers

11. Air pollution Green spaces Garbage Traffic congestion The importance given to various environmental concerns varies to some extent for different demographic segments • More concerned • Young people • People with higher education • Higher income people • More concerned • Elderly people • People with higher education • Higher income people • More concerned • Males • Young people • More concerned • Females

12. Concerning the buildings they live in, people are afraid of sources of disease and suffer from excessive noise Based on the questions“Are you confronted with any of the following nuisances in the apartment block or building where you live?” şi “Which one disturbs you most?” Most disturbing Base517

13. Abandoned animals, garbage, and air pollution affect the spaces around people’s homes Based on the questions“Are you confronted with any of the following nuisances around the apartment block or building where you live?” and “Which one disturbs you most?” Most disturbing Base 517

14. Streets, food markets, and means of public transport – themost polluted public places in town Based on the question“How would you qualify the quality of the environment in the following places in Bucharest – very poor, poor, good or very good ?” Quality of the environment Good Poor Baza 517 Difference up to 100% = Don't know

15. 4. Causes

16. Most believe that the source of environmental concerns lies in the citizens’ inappropriate behaviour Based on the question“And what would be the main reasons behind the environmental concerns Bucharest is confronted with?” • Primitivism • Ignorance • Indifference • Lack of education • Inefficiency • Incompetence • Lack of funds • Corruption • Insufficient • Permissive Base517 Multiple answers

17. 5. Influencing the individual

18. Two in three people think that the deterioration of the environment is unavoidable, while one third believe that there is nothing more to be done Based on the question“I’m now going to read out some statements. Please tell me whether you think that the people who made them are right or wrong in what they are stating?” Base 517

19. For the citizens of Bucharest the improvement of the environment means “health plus…” Based on the question“Beside the health benefit, improving the state of the environment in Bucharest could also have other benefits. I’m now going to read out some of these additional benefits. Please tell me which would be the most important for you?” Base517

20. The importance of benefits varies for various social groups *Low = Below 1500 Ron Medium = Between 1500 – 3300 Ron High = Over 3300 Ron

21. Source of information Trusted source TV - the main source of information through people learns about Bucharest environmental issues Based on the questions“Beside what you know from your personal experience, what are your main sources of information about the environmental concerns Bucharest is confronted with?” and “And which of these sources do you trust most to present environmental concerns in Bucharest in a fair and well documented way?” Trusted source Base517

22. 6. Influencing the community

23. The efforts to develop new green spaces and to improve sanitation have not gone unnoticed Based on the questions“During this last year, have you become aware of any actions – initiated either by the authorities, citizens, etc. – meant to improve the state of the environment in Bucharest?” and “Could you specify what actions you are thinking of?” Actions % Developing green spaces / parks 48 Sanitation 32 Functionalizing space 17 Waste recycling 10 Animal shelters 2 Water treatment 2 Cycling / sports actions 2 Don't know 5 Base – those who were aware of environmental actions (n=282) Multiple answers Have become aware of environmental actions No 45% Yes 55% Base517

24. What environmental actions undertaken by citizens are considered efficient Based on the question“Do you think that the following citizens’ initiatives for improving the state of the environment in Bucharest would be efficient or a waste of time?” Efficient Inefficient Base517

25. Confidence in the power of communities to effect change in favour of the environment by… Based on the question“Do you think that if citizens were to organize in environmental action groups, they would or they would not have chances to contribute to …?” Saying “Yes” Skeptical 10% 25% 29% 30% 36% 38% Base517

26. 7. Recruiting allies

27. A lot A little Not at all Who are the current allies and where to look for new ones? Based on the question“From what you have seen, would you say that … are concerned about improving the state of the environment in Bucharest –a lot, little, or nothing at all? Are concerned about the environment A lot A little/not at all Base517

28. People think that an “ambassador” for the quality of the environment in Bucharest should be an artist or a cultural personality Respondents were asked to indicate personalities. The resulting (approximately) 200 names have been classified into 3 major groups. Base517 Multiple answers

29. 8. Conclusions and recommendations

30. Conclusions and implications The city environment • The quality of the environment in Bucharest is considered to be dramatic by the majority of the population (71%). • The prevailing feeling is that the situation is going to become even worse (38%) or it will remain unchanged (35%). • The public places where the quality of the environment is the poorest are streets (67%), food markets (56%) and means of public transport (43%).

31. Threats • Negative impact on human health. • Deterioration of the quality of life. • The citizens’ low attachment to the city where they live. Opportunities • Wider opportunities to mobilize citizens for environmental actions, due to the broad consensus among them concerning the poor quality of the city environment. • Most respondents in the dissatisfied category expressed dissatisfaction with a wide range of elements, therefore it may be possible to obtain public support for a wider range of actions favouring the environment. • The public also expects new approaches to environmental concerns, considering that the interventions undertaken so far have had limited efficiency.

32. Citizens’ concerns General • Air pollution 79% • Waste disposal 49% • Traffic congestion 38% In apartment buildings • Dirty tapwater 49% • Excessive noise 34% • Cockroaches 24% Around apartment buildings • Stray animals 74% • Dust 69% • Excessive noise 43% • Waste 40%

33. Threats • Many people do not feel safe in their homes due to their exposure to health risk factors. • Problems are aggravated because they are not generated by a single cause, but rather by multiple causes: inefficient authorities, inappropriate behaviour by the individual citizen or the community. Opportunities • Citizens who live in apartment buildings and are confronted with similar problems make up structured groups that can be approached more easily by community intervention.

34. Causes • In the public opinion, the main causes for the poor state of the environment in Bucharest are: • Citizen behaviour 78% • Weak institutions 43% Threats • People favour an approach involving intervention at an individual level. This kind of action is more difficult, more costly and less efficient than intervention at community level, aimed at mobilizing groups of citizens. Opportunities • An encouraging proportion of citizens think that the poor state of the environment is also a result of the weakness shown by the competent authorities.

35. The individual • The importance granted to various environmental concerns varies depending on the demographic and social characteristics of the segment citizens in Bucharest belong to.

36. There are three types of fairly widespread attitudes among the public that may become barriers to mobilizing individuals for environmental actions. 1. Pessimism • “Environmental problems are the price of civilization.” (67%) • “In Bucharest there is nothing more to be done.” (33%) 2. Negativism • “Things are not that serious.” (20%) • “Western countries have not managed to find a solution either.” (10%) 3. Rational optimism • “Solutions will be found, because people will realize that they need to take action.” (19%) • People think that beside a better health, an improved environment in Bucharest would make their life better and less stressful. • The media represent a major source for completing and supporting the public’s information about the environmental concerns Bucharest is facing.

37. Opportunities • Differentiating environmental agendas can support an improved targeting of different groups for environmental action. We know who we need to talk to if we need support for a particular action. • People establish a strong connection between improvement in the state of the environment and improvement in the quality of life. This connection may be the basis for generating convincing communicational messages. At the same time, this connection is also a signal of the public support for major investments in environmental actions. • The media can play an extremely important role in mobilizing individuals and the community for environmental action.

38. The community • The efforts undertaken by the authorities and community groups for improving the environment have not gone unnoticed (55% visibility). • Citizens have become aware mainly of the following actions: • Development of new green spaces (48%); • Sanitation activities (32%). • Most citizens think that the most efficient community interventions are those based on information, debates and concrete action. People believe to a lesser extent in community actions based on petitions, protests, confrontation with the authorities, or on money donated for environmental causes. • There is a fairly high level of confidence in the power of communities to effect change. However, people believe more in the power of communities to draw attention to environmental concerns through the media (90%), than in their power to change things by developing new legislation or new social policies (62%).

39. Opportunities • Conditions are met for mobilizing communities. • The development of new green spaces has not gone unnoticed and is appreciated by citizens. Barriers • Citizens have the lowest level of confidence in the power of the community to effect structural change, for instance by initiating new legislation, etc.

40. *In the public’s opinion Recruiting allies • The opinions expressed indicate a discrepancy between the urgency of the environmental problems the city is facing and the extent to which the institutions that could induce positive change actually get involved. The Mayor of Bucharest and the media are seen as somewhat more active. However, people do not think that they have strong allies for actions meant to improve the environment among these institutions and people.

41. Recommendations for action Priority objectives for Bucharest • Waste disposal • Developing new green spaces • Identifying solutions for reducing traffic congestion • Improving tap water quality • Stray animals • Dust • Controlling sources of noises • Vermin control • Controlling sources of air pollution (other than road traffic).

42. Levers • Re-evaluating and modifying interventions, considering that previous actions do not seem to have been efficient. • Stronger involvement of the competent authorities. • Recruiting allies from among politicians, voluntary organizations, public services, businesses, and personalities in the sciences, arts and culture. • Mobilizing structured communities in apartment buildings, streets, schools, institutions, etc. • The public spaces that should be approached as priorities are streets, foodmarkets and means of public transport.

43. Creating a communication programme for influencing individuals and for stimulating community intervention. Using the conclusions of this survey for developing appropriate messages. • Strengthening cooperation among NGOs active in the environmental sector and the competent authorities in Bucharest. • Encouraging the setting up of associations, groups, organizations of the public dedicated to solving a particular environmental problem or other. • Multiplying communication channels between citizens and the Municipality on environmental topics. • Fostering cooperation between citizens’ associations and the media in order to improve the efficiency of community intervention. • Designating celebrities as promoters for environmental actions for a clean and friendly Bucharest. End of presentation