ABU DHABI // The message that every resident needs to do more to conserve energy and protect the environment is hitting its target, a survey has shown.
The annual Environment Agency Abu Dhabi survey found 68 per cent of respondents took steps that saved energy or were good for the natural environment – a 13 per cent rise from the year before.
Dr Mohamed Al Madfaei, executive director of policy and planning at Ead, said while the survey showed the message was getting through, more work was needed.
“The last survey showed improved awareness from 2012 and it is crucial for us to continue having awareness campaigns,” he said.
Two thousand people of different ages and nationalities late last year took part in the latest edition of the annual Environmental Awareness and Behaviour Survey, which Ead has been conducting since 2008.
It found knowledge of the harm caused by construction has increased greatly, from 24 per cent in 2012 to 81 per cent last year.
The biggest change in attitudes was on air quality, with awareness rising from 7 per cent to 90 per cent.
The agency said the improvement could be attributed to a greater representation of business people in this survey.
“In 2013, a greater number of senior administrative officials were interviewed, who were perhaps more attuned to environment-related issues,” an Ead spokesman said. “In 2012 the respondents were mainly employees.”
More people within the construction industry were aware of the need for proper waste management: from 45 per cent in 2012 to 88 per cent last year.
Fozeya Al Mahmoud, director of the agency’s environmental outreach, said the results of the surveys were used to understand what motivates people living in the capital.
“The Environmental Awareness and Behaviour Survey findings have for years helped inform Ead’s outreach focus for the coming year,” Ms Al Mahmoud said.
Overall, the issue of waste management was considered most important, with 61 per cent saying it was a priority for the Government.
One area that needed attention was water conservation, with a little over half of respondents saying they resorted to simple measures to cut water use, such as turning off taps while brushing their teeth.
But awareness of the need to conserve water rose to 52 per cent of respondents last year from 46 per cent the year before.
The survey also showed that those aged between 15 to 20 were the most well-informed when it comes to green issues and were most likely to address their effects on the environment.
Switching off lights and air conditioning when not in use was a priority for young people, with 83 per cent of respondents in this group saying they routinely did it.
vtodorova@thenational.ae
