Determination of the Environmental Problems At A National and Local Public Level: Cases of Tekirdag and Turkey

Abstract

Studies on the indication of environmental problems on local level, evaluation of them on national level and developing preventive measures have already gain importance in international agenda. There are a number of values that are of importance for the sustainability or degradation of the natural environment of a country. Technological development, scientific advances, the level of economic development of the country, and the specific capacity for political modernisation influence the situation and development of the environment. Public opinion concerning environmental problems is a genuine factor in environmental politics and an important factor, too, in the practical solution of current and future environmental problems. The high surface ozone concentrations are considered a grave environmental problem by local communities. This study aimed to determine environmental problems of inhabitants of Tekirdag and Turkey as a whole. The behaviours and thoughts of inhabitants on environmental problems were investigated through specially prepared questionnaire form. Furthermore, this study investigates the influence of the economic and socio-cultural factors on the environmental problems. Questionnaire study was conducted on 400 people during January-June 2005 through face-to-face interviewing method. Questions related to awareness were prepared to determine the position of environmental problems in the span of other problems and the importance level of environmental problems in the scale of Tekirdag and Turkey. The importance of the most important sources of environmental pollution, nature reaction to environmental problems, necessity of environmental protection, scenarios that may result from environmental pollution, prevention of pollution and containers of bottle accumulation for the individuals were questioned.