MOSCOW, June 4, 2009. On the eve of the World Environmental Day Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how Russians evaluate ecological situation and its changes over the recent years in their surroundings; and what they think are the causes of environmental degradation.

Russians are more rare satisfied with the quality of the environment. The share of Russians assessing the ecological conditions in their surroundings as being good has been declining during the recent four years: from 44% in 2005 году to 39% currently; at the same time, those who regard the ecological situation as being "good in general" is declining (from 13% to 7%). The negative attitudes prevail over the negative ones, as previously (58%): 49% assess the environmental conditions as being rather poor, 9% - as being catastrophic.  

Those who assess the ecological situation positively are Southerners (47%), Central and Volga Districts residents (45% and 44% respectively), as well as rural area residents (55%). On the contrary, most of Siberians and big cities residents mention poor or catastrophic ecological situation in the place of their residence (79% and 72% respectively).

Compared with 2005, the share of Russians reporting ecological situation is worsening in their surroundings has increased over the recent five years (from 33% to 41%).  They are generally Siberians (54%), residents of the Russian Far East and North-Western Federal Districts (53% and 51% respectively), as well as residents of big cities (56%). Forty-three percent of respondents think that the ecological situation has not changed (52% thought so in 2005). This point of view is also shared by Southerners (55%) and rural area residents (50%). And finally, only every tenth mention positive ecological dynamics in their surroundings (10%): most of them are people living in the Far East (18%) and middle-sized cities (14%).

Air and water pollution are the basic indicators of the environment degradation, Russians mark (51% for each). The second position is held by deterioration in health condition (44%); the third position is taken by poor quality of drinking water (37%). There were also named such factors as anti-sanitary environmental conditions (35%), deforestation (31%), increased noise level (17%), climate changes (16%), and harmful effects of the chemicals on food (14%). Respondents also named extinction of certain fauna species (10%), elevated radiation levels (9%), and acid rain (7%).  

The majority of signs of environmental degradation has become less common over the recent years.  There is a decrease in the share of Russians cited water pollution (56% in 2005 against 51% in this year) and poor drinking water (41% against 37%), elevated radiation levels (23% against 9%), climate changes (20% against 16%), harmful effects of the chemicals on food (19% against 14%), acid rains (14% against 7%), and extinction of certain fauna species (14% against 10%). 

On the other hand, Russians tend to mention more signs of environmental deterioration.  It deals with deterioration in health condition (40% in 2005 against 44% un this year), as well as the increased noise level (13% against 17%).

The initiative Russian opinion poll was conducted on May 30-31, 2009.   1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error doesnot exceed 3.4%.

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,

 the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!