Poll: Finns, Swedes, and Estonians very worried about pollution of Baltic Sea

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Citizens of Finland, Sweden, and Estonia are very worried about the state of the Baltic Sea. According to a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup, 94% of Finns, 91% of Estonians, and 83% of Swedes see pollution of the sea as a problem that urgently needs to be addressed.
      In Finland and Sweden about 40% Of respondents feel that the problem is extremely serious, and are calling for immediate action on the matter. More than a third of Estonians feel the same way.
      About half of the people in all three countries feel that the problem is “fairly serious”, requiring long-term planning, and action.
      A slightly higher percentage of Estonians say that the problem is not something for which planning would need to take place immediately. however, fewer than ten per cent of Estonians downplayed the seriousness of the issue.
     
The respondents were asked what kinds of activities they have had to change because of the state of the Baltic.
      The findings indicate that Finns are less likely than Swedes or Estonians to have been personally compelled to make changes in their lives because of the issue. Two out of five Swedes have changed plans because of the state of the Baltic, as have just over a third of Estonians, and only just over a fourth of all Finns.
     
As many as one in four Swedes say that they have refrained from eating fish because of the pollution of the Baltic. A significantly smaller proportion of Finns and Estonians have done the same.
      About one in Five Estonians are more cautious than usual with respect to swimming. In Finland, and especially in Sweden, most people have not changed their plans for swimming because of pollution of the sea.
      The greater caution of the Estonians could be explained by the fact that there are fewer opportunities for inland swimming and fishing in Estonia than is the case in Finland or Sweden.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Baltic Sea needs urgent attention (14.4.2008)
  St. Petersburg reduces phosphorous emissions into Gulf of Finland (2.10.2007)
  New project to treat Poland’s waste water; Finnish foundation helps develop removal of phosphorus (14.5.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat