96% of Europeans concerned about loss of biodiversity, support stronger action to protect nature

An overwhelming majority of Europeans are concerned about the loss of biodiversity and say that they support stronger EU action to protect nature, the latest Eurobarometer survey showed.

The survey was published shortly before the release of an Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) report which found that nature is being eroded at rates unprecedented in human history.

The main elements of the new Biodiversity Eurobarometer survey include:

• Familiarity with the term “biodiversity” has increased, with over 70% of Europeans saying they have heard of it.
• The biggest perceived threats to biodiversity are air, soil and water pollution, man-made disasters and climate change.
• Since the last Eurobarometer on biodiversity in 2015, citizens’ understanding of the importance of biodiversity for humans has increased. The vast majority of citizens consider we have a responsibility to look after nature (96%), and that looking after nature is essential for tackling climate change (95%). There has also been a marked increase in those who totally agree that biodiversity is indispensable for the production of food, fuel and medicines (91%), and in those who consider that biodiversity and healthy nature are important for long-term economic development (92%).
• Most Europeans are unwilling to trade damage or destruction to nature in protected areas for economic development. At least two thirds of respondents consider that nature protection areas such as Natura 2000 are very important in protecting endangered animals and plants (71%), preventing the destruction of valuable nature areas on land and at sea (68%) and safeguarding nature’s role in providing food, clean air and water (67%).
• Most citizens see the EU as a legitimate level to take action on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Respondents say that the most important actions for the EU to take in order to protect biodiversity are to restore nature and biodiversity to compensate for damage and to better inform citizens about the importance of biodiversity.

“The latest Biodiversity Eurobarometer survey clearly demonstrates three things: Europeans care deeply about nature and biodiversity; they recognize climate change and biodiversity loss as two sides of the same coin and they expect the EU to act in order to safeguard nature.

Coupled with the solid scientific evidence coming from IPBES later today, the Commission has both a duty and a mandate to work towards a strong global deal for nature and people in 2020,” said EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella.

According to the European Commission, the survey was carried out in the 28 EU Member States between 4 and 20 December 2018. Some 27,643 respondents from different social and demographic groups were interviewed face-to-face at home in their mother tongue.