UNDP: Two-Thirds of Serbian Citizens Feel that Protecting Environment Is More Important than Economic Development

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia published on May 17 a public call for innovative solutions to address the consequences of the crisis triggered by the coronavirus in North Macedonia and Albania(Photo:PrintScreen rs.undp.org)

Around two-thirds of Serbian citizens feel that preserving a healthy living environment is more important than economic growth, according to a public opinion poll on the environment and climate change, the results of which were presented in the EU Info Center, as part of European Green Week.

The survey shows that an equal number of citizens are unwilling to spend more money on environmental protection if that means raising electricity or water bills. The survey, which was conducted by the UNDP in association with the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID), for the purpose of establishing public opinion on subjects that are part of the EU's initiative for the Green Agenda in Serbia, shows that "every fourth citizens of Serbia (26 percent) is concerned the most by air pollution."

Team leader for resilient development at the UNDP Zarko Petrovic said that "concern for the quality of water is second (13 percent of respondents)  while illegal dumps are third (12 percent)."

A total of 62 percent of those polled said that climate change was a real danger and that changes need to be made to prevent its repercussions while 82 percent of respondents said that the main cause of climate change was man.