By Donitra Clemons, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A survey conducted by the Ministry of the Environment released this week showed that Brazilians are increasingly aware of the importance of preserving the environment. The issue of the environment appeared in sixth place (thirteen percent) in the ranking of the main concerns identified by the population.
The ranking is more than twice what it was in 1997, when it was just five percent. Others larger concerns on the list are health (81 percent), crime (65 percent), unemployment (34 percent), education (32 percent) and politicians (23 percent).
“The results are quite impressive,” assessed Environment Minister, Izabella Teixeira, during the release of the study results.
According to the survey, the environment is first in the list of reasons to be proud of Brazil, with 28 percent of the respondents voting it the top reason to be proud. In addition, 65 percent of respondents said that survival is the main reason to preserve it.
“This is a good thing, because people begin to understand the importance not only due to the preservation of animals and plants,” said Samyra Crespo, secretary of Institutional Coordination Environmental Citizenship and the Environment.
Among the environmental problems listed, the population cited deforestation, with 67 percent, followed by pollution of rivers, lakes and other water sources, with 47 percent. Air pollution, decreasing the volume of waste and the ozone appears below.
Another interesting result was that 78 percent of the population does not know what Rio+20 is, the largest UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held next week in Rio de Janeiro. Minister Teixeira responded: “Since we are talking about all of Brazil, this rate is not low. We are talking about 22 percent, which represents at least forty million [people know what Rio+20 is]. I think a very good number”, she said.
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