International Environmental Survey 1980 (Germany)

Ecological moral concepts in West Germany

Topics: 1. Aspects of ecological awareness: attitudes to science,
technology, nuclear power, limits to economic growth and increase in
problems with raw materials and energy; quality of life in industrial
societies; the world´s over-population; harmony between man and nature
as prerequisite to survival; increasing foreign requirements;
disturbance of the ecological balance; abuse of nature.

2. Social attitudes to the environment: perceived future social
development regarding economic growth, the use of nature and citizens´
participation in political decisions; preference for a planned economy
or a market economy; judgement on the achievement-oriented society;
prosperity at the price of risks; individual standard of living
determined by achievement; meaning of work; priority for environmental
protection or economic growth; citizen participation in political
decisions; personal responsibility for one´s own prosperity.

3. Personal willingness to act regarding the environment: importance
of unspoiled nature, contact opportunities, adventure, cultural sights
and good shopping opportunities when choosing a vacation destination;
personal participation in recycling; attention to packaging when
shopping.

4. Political activities regarding the environment: commitment in
environmental questions; membership in a citizens´ initiative or an
organization for environmental protection; personal registering of
complaint at perceived environmental pollution; assessment of personal
political effectiveness regarding environmental questions within the
community.

5. Indicators for the natural and social environment: urgency of
selected problems of environmental protection and perceived probability
of solving them; satisfaction with environment policies in the Federal
Republic; urgency of selected areas of political tasks; the
contribution to solving environmental problems by selected political
and economic groups, as well as environmental protection groups and the
populace; attitude to environmental protection groups; willingness to
pay additional taxes for environmental protection; general assessment
of the extent of danger to the environment; thinking about
environmental problems; priority of job security or environmental
protection; solving environmental protection problems through social,
economic and political changes; attitude to citizen actions against
large projects; union membership; self-evaluation of social class;
left-right orientation; party preference; size of city.