Podgorica, (MINA) – More than 75 percent of Montenegrin citizens are willing to change their habits for the sake of environmental protection, while almost 70 percent believe that the state can successfully fulfill its obligations in this area.

 

These are the results of the public opinion survey on environmental protection and Chapter 27, conducted by Spektrum Analytics Agency for the the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development (MERS) in April and May, on a sample of 1,000 respondents.

 

The survey author, Milos Besic, said that Montenegro faces challenges in certain areas, especially when it comes to air pollution.

 

Besic added that more than three quarters of citizens believe that Montenegro is exposed to environmental problems.

 

“When it comes to the biggest environmental issues, the citizens identified illegal waste dumping and wild landfills in the first place, cited by 27.1 percent of respondents. Air pollution is in second place with 19.9 percent”, said Besic.

 

He stressed that citizens recognize these two problems as crucial, and public policies should be directed specifically at addressing them.

 

“The research also found that 76.5 percent of respondents are familiar with the negotiation chapters in Montenegro’s EU accession process, while 69.3 percent have heard of Chapter 27, which covers environmental protection and climate change”, said Besic.

 

He stated that 60 percent of citizens would support aligning Montenegro’s with European standards even if it would increase costs for citizens and the economy.

 

Besic added that almost 70 percent of respondents believe that Montenegro can successfully fulfill its environmental protection obligations in the EU accession process.

 

The survey also showed a high level of declarative willingness among citizens to personally contribute to environmental protection.

 

“76.2 percent of them stated that they are ready to change their habits in order to protect the environment”, specified Besic.

 

Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North Damjan Culafic explained that the goal of the survey was to assess the situation at a time when intensive efforts re being invested to raise public awareness ahead of the closure of Chapter 27.

 

“The data are encouraging in many respects, although there are areas where the results are not so positive. They will serve as a basis for us to create state policies in a different way in the future. I believe that this gives us a good methodology and that we have a credible and serious research from which we will learn a lot”, said Culafic, PR Center reports.

 

Speaking about Chapter 27obligations, he said that two crucial laws – the Law on Waste Management and the Law on Nature Protection, are yet to be adopted.

 

“Thus, we would bring the activities regarding alignment of Montenegro’s legislation with the European legal acquis to an end. We are counting down to the closing of the chapter and I think that by the end of June we must be maximally focused on that,” said Culafic, and called on all political actors, the NGO sector, the media and citizens to get involved in the process.