New Public Opinion Survey: Water Pollution and Scarcity Top China’s Environmental Challenges

Dalian, China (September 10, 2009) – Contamination of China’s fresh water resources from industrial pollution and inadequate sewage treatment is seen by Chinese residents as the nation’s most critical environmental priority, according to a new public opinion survey. The survey by Circle of Blue, an American multi-media news and science organization, and GlobeScan, a global public opinion polling firm, also found that people are hungry for more information.

The Circle of Blue / GlobeScan survey’s China focus was published today at the World Economic Forum New Champions conference here this week. The findings in China were part of a comprehensive public opinion survey that interviewed 1,000 people in each of 15 countries. The poll asked more in-depth questions concerning attitudes about fresh water sustainability, management, and conservation to 500 people in China and each of six other nations: Canada, India, Mexico, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Circle of Blue / GlobeScan poll, the most comprehensive global public opinion survey on water, found that people around the world—especially in China—viewed water pollution and scarcity as the planet’s top environmental problems, greater than air pollution, depletion of natural resources, loss of habitat and climate change.

“We found very significant concern among the Chinese people about water quality and access to clean water,” said Rob Kerr, vice president of GlobeScan and one of the survey’s principal researchers. “The data show that the Chinese are aware of the condition of their waters and understand action is needed to improve conditions.”

Public concern in China about the quality and availability of clean fresh water mirrors the global consequences of water scarcity and pollution. More than five million people die each year due to a lack of safe drinking water, and the United Nations estimates that 5.5 billion people will lack adequate access to fresh water in the next 20 years. Water scarcity and declining water quality have emerged as serious impediments to economic development and security in dozens of industrialized and developing countries.

Sixty-seven percent of Chinese respondents are very concerned about water pollution, 62 percent agree that water shortages are too big a problem for individuals to be able to contribute to the solution, while 34 percent believe individuals can make a difference. Eighty-eight percent want to be more informed before they contribute to the solution.

“We're finding that people around the world are awakening to global water challenges such as scarcity and pollution,” said J. Carl Ganter, Circle of Blue co-founder and director, at the World Economic Forum’s New Champions Conference in Dalian, China. “The trend here is that as people awake to the problem, they are not only seeking solutions, they want to know more and how to be a part of the solution. China is at so many crossroads and the public and political climates are changing rapidly.”

The independent survey was commissioned by Circle of Blue, the Michigan-based international network of leading journalists, scientists and communicators focused on global water issues. Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE: TAP) supported the in-depth research, which was conducted by GlobeScan. A global snapshot of the survey was presented August 18 at World Water Week in Stockholm.

The survey results come at a time when protests over water quality in China are now occurring with such frequency, say China specialists and environmental advocates, that they signal the opening of public and government conscience about the environment. They’ve also led to improvements last year in Chinese water quality statutes. (Read full Circle of Blue coverage of these China trends at Circle of Blue WaterViews.)

Despite containing the world’s fourth-largest fresh water supply, “two thirds of China's approximately 660 cities have less than they need and 110 of them suffer severe shortages,” according to Elizabeth Economy, a China scholar at the Council on Foreign Relations. Cities like Beijing and Tianjin could run out of water in five to seven years, says China water expert and environmentalist Ma Jun.

The full report, including details about China, interactive visualizations using Qlikview and award-winning photojournalism is online at Circle of Blue WaterViews.

China is not alone. A close look at the survey results shows that people around the world view water pollution as the most important facet of the fresh water crisis, and that shortages of fresh water are very close behind.

“It’s the axis issue that intersects the world's greatest challenges, from health, poverty and security to climate, immigration and environment, even financial and commodities markets,” Ganter said.

Chris Coulter, vice president of GlobeScan, said, “This research confirms the general public’s awareness and understanding of water as a critical resource, as well as the importance of conserving and protecting fresh water supplies through stewardship...”

Resources

Full survey results, including photos, interactive maps, and detail for each of the seven featured countries, are available at http://www.circleofblue.org/waterviews. Daily reports on the world’s water issues are available at Circle of Blue WaterNews.

A webcast of the Stockholm presentation, including an introduction by Molson Coors CEO Peter Swinburn, is available online.