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The Environment Continued unease about the economy seems to have further diminished residents' level of concern about environmental issues. Today, 43 percent consider environmental problems like air and water pollution to pose a "very serious" threat to their health and well-being, while 35 percent consider the threat "somewhat serious." One in five residents now say environmental problems are "not too serious," while 1 percent are unsure. This is the first time the number considering environmental problems to be very serious has fallen well below a majority. Last year, 48 percent said the environmental threat was very serious, with only 16 percent saying such concerns were not too serious. And in 1990, before fears about the economy became a top concern to county residents, 60 percent called environmental issues very serious and only 8 percent said they were not too serious. Thus, the number highly concerned about the environment has dropped 17 points since the recession got underway. Environmental threat is felt most acutely by younger people, with 48 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds calling the concern very serious, compared to 45 percent of 35- to 54-year-olds and only 30 percent of older residents. Concern also appears to fall in the higher-income groups -- 48 percent of residents in households earning $50,000 a year or less call environmental problems very serious, compared to 38 percent of those in the middle-income group, and 34 percent of those making $80,000 or more. There are no differences by region of residence. There are also no major differences by education, gender or the presence of children inside the home. This year, 43 percent say they would be willing to accept higher unemployment in the county so that industry could better protect the environment, while 48 percent are unwilling. Nine percent are undecided. These numbers are virtually unchanged from last year, which was the first time the question was asked. Thus, though their concerns about the environment may be less pressing today, residents are no more willing to give up environmental protection for jobs. Higher unemployment in exchange for greater environmental protection is more acceptable to people aged 18 to 54 (46%) than to older residents (34%). South County residents are also more willing to accept higher unemployment for environmental quality (53%) than are residents elsewhere in the county (39%). There are no differences by income. Nor are there major variations by education, gender or the presence of children. |
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