The people are concerned about the state of the environment and consider that there is insufficient information and news on the issue. The poll “Perceptions concerning protection of the environment in Moldova”, carried out by the Marketing and Polling Institute (IMAS) Chisinau, shows that 35% of the 55% of the respondents who declared that the subject of the environment is very important to them heard news on this matter long ago.
In a news conference at IPN, IMAS director Doru Petrutsi said that most of the people are mainly concerned about the pollution of water, air and soil. Over 72% of those surveyed consider the public authorities must be preoccupied with the environment. More than 90% of those polled are displeased with the lack of culture of those who throw litter in unauthorized places and as many respondents want the mass media to provide more information about problems concerning the environment.
Asked what sources they would use to inform themselves about the state of the environment, over 40% of the respondents mentioned the Internet and then the television. Less than 1% mentioned the school. 67% of those polled consider it is education that will help reduce the impact of human activity on the environment.
Asked who should inform the population about the protection of the environment, the respondents mentioned the local authorities, the family and the school. Most of those questioned said they want to spend more time outside, in the open air, but consider that the people started to live less owing to the polluted environment.
Acting Deputy Minister of the Environment Dorin Dusciac noted it is very important for the school curriculum to include ecological education so as to raise a responsible generation. Only slightly over 1% of the respondents said they form part of an environment protection organization and think that the authorities should support such organizations, including by grants.
IMAS carried out five polls on the issue between November and December 2014. They each covered over 800 persons from more than 90 settlements. The margin of sampling error is 3.4%. The polls were commissioned by the Association for Development and Cooperation in Moldova.
