What does your floor has to do with the tropical deforestation in Borneo? A plastic bag with the death of the sea turtles? WWF brings answers to these and many other questions in its new social advertising campaign “SOS to the World”, accompanied by the research conducted by IIBR (Gemius Group).
Many of us do not realize that our daily actions have an impact on the environment in the other parts of the world. According to the latest survey* commissioned by WWF, carried out by IIBR on Polish internet users, ignorance is widespread even among the inhabitants of the largest Polish cities, where among those with secondary or higher education, 36% of respondents do not have a clue that they can make a difference – says Karolina Tymorek, coordinator of the campaign ‘SOS to the World’. WWF, leading international conservation organization, tries to raise awareness around the globe about the fact that many of our daily choices contribute to environmental degradation. The nonprofit organization shows how easily each of us can begin to tackle with the main environmental problems of the modern world: illegal wood and endangered species trade, overproduction and inappropriate waste disposal, the problem of electronic waste, climate changes or deficit of drinking water.
Figure 1. Pro-environment actions undertaken by Poles
Source: IIBR, Attitudes towards dangers posed to the natural environment, WWF campaign SOS to the world
How Poles, often unwittingly, contribute to environmental devastation? The model example is deforestation. Every minute the natural forest area equal to 36 football stadiums disappears from our planet. It is estimated that even 1/4 of wood and wooden products imported to the European Union, including to Poland, comes from illegal sources. Poles are very eager to buy exotic hardwood floors, furniture and other goods, unaware that they could be made from illegally cut trees. The research shows that 58 percent of the residents of major cities considered illegal timber trade as a very serious issue, while as many as 72 percent of respondents claim that Poles do not have any influence regarding solving this problem. This example proves that the level of environmental education is not sufficient. Moreover, most respondents do not realize that they can help in coping with this problem through buying certified wood, which guarantees that forest is cut down in a nature-friendly way.
Similarly, over half of respondents say that the Poles do not have impact on trade in endangered species. Statistics of customs and local police prove otherwise – only in 2010 the Polish Customs Administration has detained more than 8 000 illegal exotic animals smuggled through Polish borders. Unfortunately, the growing global demand for exotic souvenirs or live specimens is the reason for which 5000 species are threatened with extinction because of illegal trade.
One of the greatest threats to the environment is also excessive waste. According to the UN, every year over one million animals are killed by plastic rubbish. The largest waste dump in the world ocean called ‘the Great Pacific Garbage Patch’ begins about 900 km from the coast of California and ends near Japan. This is just one of many examples that mankind is incapable of coping with waste. We do not have to look far for another case. Although IIBR study shows that 50 percent of respondents declared to segregate all waste, and another 43 percent declared that they will do so in the future, the facts are that in 2009 as much as 78 percent of all municipal waste in Poland ended up on landfills. To compare, the EU average was 38 percent.
Another important issue is climate change and global warming. The subject has been discussed for many years, yet it is clear from the IIBR study that 44 percent of respondents believe that Poles have no effect on the prevention of this phenomenon or have no opinion on this subject. Again, the facts prove otherwise: Poland takes high, 21st place on the global list of greenhouse gas emitters, and the total potential of energy efficiency in Polish households is as high as 40 percent. Meanwhile, for example, only half of the respondents declared that they turn off their household appliances from the so-called stand-by mode.
With ‘SOS to the World’ campaign, WWF proves that by introducing simple changes in your daily life, everyone can help save the environment in Poland and worldwide - explains Tymorek. WWF encourages everyone to take action by creating his/her own ecological decalogue on sos.wwf.pl site, using a comprehensive set of commitments proposed by the WWF. This symbolic action aims to change not only the awareness, but also the daily habits of the Poles.
Through this action WWF reminds that each of us has direct influence on the state of our environment. As the results of the quoted research prove, we may not be necessarily aware of that, but that is not changing the fact that problems located far away from our borders, are also our problems because, as many examples show our irresponsible behavior leads to felling of unique forests, hunting and killing the endangered animal species, polluting the environment with waste or global climate changes.
Source: sos.wwf.pl
For more information about WWF initiatives internationally visit: wwf.pl
* The survey conducted by the Interactive Institute for Market Research, with the usage of online questionnaire (CAWI), conducted between 01-07 June 2011 on the IIBR research panel in Poland. The study was conducted on a group of 500 respondents aged 20-49 lat, with secondary or higher education, living in cities with 200,000 inhabitants and more, with specified media preferences.
The project is co-financed by the European Union with European Regional Development Fund resources within the Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme.
Co-financed by the National Environment Protection and Water Economy Fund.
