Development Of Environmental Concern Research Articles

Ecocriticism and Eighteenth-Century English Studies

Although many ecocritical works written by Romanticists and others have neglected the importance of 18th-century English literature in the development of environmental concern, more recent ecocritical work has begun to pay closer and more sympathetic attention to writers from the end of the 17th century through the 1780s. New approaches to 18th-century poetry have emphasized an appreciation of natural beauty and fragility as well as utility, and a critical recognition of the distinction between georgic and pastoral views has begun to highlight nature as a working world (georgic) rather than an archaic refuge. Appropriately, studies of working-class poetry have now entered the field, and ecofeminism has begun to play a significant role in some recent revaluations. Postcolonial ecocriticism promises fuller development. A richer range of ecocritical readings of 18th-century texts should begin to lead not only to reassessments of individual works or authors but of the history of environmental consciousness.

Social Reactions to the Climate Debate in Germany and Switzerland

Abstract In this contribution we take a look at the development of environmental concern and mobility behavior of the population in Germany and Switzerland. The proportion of survey participants who express concern about the state of the natural environment is high in both countries. However, this proportion did not increase during the last two decades despite the ongoing public debate about environmental issues. At the same time the demand for private transportation did increase in Germany by almost 20% (in Switzerland by 2.5%). However, fuel consumption per capita decreased in Germany by 6.5% and in Switzerland by 2.2%. Our time series analyses of these trends suggest that this reduction is due to the price increase of gasoline which was substantial in both countries and not due to any change in attitudes. We argue that further price increases are appropriate means to reduce fuel consumption. However, our analyses also show that the price elasticity for fuel is low.

Social Exclusion as Constraint for the Development of Environmentally Friendly Attitudes

In this article we investigate the consequences of the phenomenon of social exclusion on the development of environmental concern. We use the concept of social exclusion in order to describe situations where least privileged groups of the population experience a combination of problems, undermining their ability to fully participate in society and to access basic social infrastructures. Our research revealed that certain aspects of social exclusion could be considered significant determinants for the development of environmentally friendly attitudes of four cultural population groups (Roma people, immigrants from ex-USSR countries, Greek citizens of Muslim religion and general population), living in the urban area of Thessaloniki, Greece (n=545). A consistent pattern of factors across groups was shown, predicting environmental attitudes. The important conclusion of this survey is that "social exclusion constraints" effects and not cultural or ethnic effects dictate concern for the environment. When these constraints are not present, environmental attitudes are improved.