Environmental Conditions and Behaviour

Environmental conditions and behaviour micro census; results of the 4^th quarter 2007

The micro census for environmental conditions and behaviour 2007 identifies, to what extent respondents felt disturbed by noise, odours, dust, soot or electric smog and which causes are assumed therefore. For the first time questions were posed regarding noise protection measures and their impact. Also an assessment was made of the general environmental quality and any major environmental problems. The respondents were also asked to evaluate their quality of living as well as any detrimental influences.

Furthermore the environmental behaviour of the Austrians was analyzed. For this purpose the purchase of ecological products was considered, questions about waste separation in households were investigated and it was argued how far environmental issues affect holiday planning. Within the survey the various themes concerning mobility in Austria were covered in detail especially the information provided on the chosen mode of transport and the population’s attitude toward public and private transport was thoroughly analyzed.

The data were evaluated and published according to socio-demographic distinctions like gender, age, type of education or regional structures.

In 2007 38.9% of respondents felt disturbed by noise in their home, with the level of disturbance rated as “extreme” by 3.9% and “severe” by 6.6%. Also in 2007 for 64.2% of respondents, traffic was the main cause of disturbance; this implies a considerable decline compared to 2003 (73.5%). 8.5% reported noise protection measures in their housing area. These measures improved the situation in 56.8% of cases.

21.4% of respondents felt disturbed by odours and emissions in their housing vicinity and barely half of the victims (47.2%) stated traffic as the main cause of the disturbance. In 2007 averaged 26.6% of respondents felt disturbed by dust and/or soot in their home. The electric smog pollution doubled since 2003, 16.1% of respondents felt disturbed in 2007 consisting of 9.7% at home and 11.4% at the place of work.

The sectors drinking water quality, water quality of lakes and rivers, availability of premium food and green space were judged as good by more than 90% of respondents. In contrast the air quality was rated as good by 81.2%, the noise situation only by 65.5% of the sample. The greenhouse effect and climate change (31.7%) proportionally represent the major environmental problem for the respondents, followed by increasing traffic volume (26.2%). About 38% of Austrians estimate their living quality as very good, 55% as good.

67.1% of respondents bought at least one product of the category organic milk and milk products during the last 12 months. 63.7% purchased organic fruit and vegetables at least once. In the last 3 years 20.9% of the respondents bought environment friendly wallpapers/paint/lacquer and 20.3% purchased environmental friendly manufactured clothes. About two thirds of the respondents take into account of purchasing products made in the region, something more than half of them considered if fruit and vegetables are in season.

95.3% of respondents indicated disposing of waste paper, 92.7% waste glass separately, least often organic waste was collected (79.7%). 29.2% of respondents stated the consideration of local environment issues when choosing their holiday destination.

More than 90% of the Austrian population in 2007 used a car at least on occasion for the daily commute (driver or car passenger), 38.6% use it daily. The means of public transport train, bus, tram, metro were frequented by 57.8% of respondents at least on occasion, 16.9% use public transport daily. The question about the image of the public transport was answered in the affirmative; the highest agreement received the statement “public transport is mostly on time”. Three quarters of respondents generally agreed with this statement.

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Micro census 4th quarter 2007
Noise disturbance in living areas: by day and/or night
Bad odours and emissions in living areas: by day and/or night
Inconvenience due to dust and soot
Major environmental problem
Purchase of ecological products
Waste seperation
Choice of transport mode on local passenger traffic
Environmental behaviour on holiday travel
Micro census December 2003
Inconvenience due to noise at the living quaters
Inconvenience due to bad odours at the living quaters
Inconvenience caused by tobacco smoke
Inconvenience at the living quarters due to dust and/or soot
Inconvenience due to dust and/or soot
Inconvenience due to poor air quality