The perception of environmental problems. Austria in international comparison

This article explores the perception of environmental problems in Austria within the context of a comparative international approach. The analysis centers on the question of differences in risk perception across countries and within countries. It utilizes representative national public opinion data, which were collected by the International Social Survey Programme ISSP in 34 countries between 2010 and 2013. The results indicate a differentiation along nature and climate oriented problems such as water shortage, socially induced everyday issues (for example waste disposal), and socially induced severe problems, i.e. climate change and nuclear waste. Whereas the first set of problems can be found in countries such as Mexico and South Africa and thus be explained by climate conditions, socially induced problems are not linked to specific sets of countries or regions. Finally, the Austrian perception of the different risks is moderate, thus neither natural problems nor socially induced problems are named disproportionately often when compared with other countries.19 page(s