Environmental knowledge and environmental attitudes: wedinoon, morocco

摘要

There is a major omission in the considerableliterature on environmental problems, and the threatthese problems present in the South. Little is knownabout how the population in the South perceive thesethreats. Similarly, we have little understanding ofpeople's attitudes towards environmental problems.This paper draws on studies carried out in 1993 and 1996.It draws on empirical material taken from a sample ofhouseholds in the city of Goulimine. Located in thepre-Saharan region of Anti-Atlas Mountains. The aim isto identify inhabitants' attitudes to environmentalproblems and the extent to which these attitudes andopinions correlate with actual household energyconsumption. The results show a high level of concernabout environmental issues, particularly among migrantgroups. But closer analysis reveals an inconsistencybetween environmental concern and actual consumption ofhousehold energy. This is explained by the fact thatcertain energy sources have been, and still are, crucialin people's lifestyles and, thus, difficult to change.The paper concludes by suggesting that central, regional,and local authorities have both a responsibility and anopportunity to assist in environmental management.Moreover, it is suggested that environmental actionsshould become proactive, rather than reactive or responsive.