Citizens and city on climate change

Copenhagen’s Green Image:

Where the City and Citizens Stand & Differ on Climate Change Linh Kostiuk May 2014

Image © Mikael Colville-Andersen/Flickr.com

Created for Copenhagen Area Survey / København Område Oversigt (KOO) Rice University: Kinder Institute for Urban Research and the Danish Institute for Study Abroad

Table of Contents Executive Summary..................................................................................................................................... 2 Report ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 I.

The Issue ......................................................................................................................................... 3

II.

The Research & Findings ................................................................................................................. 3 A.

Asking the People: Survey Data and Sourcing ............................................................................. 3

B.

Denmark: Sustainability and Environmental Awareness: ............................................................ 4

a.

Copenhagen: Sustainability and “Green” Policy .......................................................................... 4

C.

Citizens’ Perceptions of the Seriousness and Threat of Climate Change: .................................... 6

D.

Denmark’s spending on Environmental Protection................................................................... 11

E.

Humanity’s role and responsibility for climate change ............................................................. 13

F.

How citizens should participate in combating Climate Change ................................................. 14

a.

Analysis of responses and where support comes from ............................................................. 15

III.

Conclusions & Implications ....................................................................................................... 17

Bibliography .............................................................................................................................................. 18

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Executive Summary This report provides an analysis and evaluation of Copenhagen’s citizens’ perception of Climate Change and environmental issues and compares this perception with that of the green image projected by the Copenhagen administration and foreign organizations.

Copenhagen has spent a large amount of money and time in creating and facilitating “green” legislation and goals with the intention of becoming a model for sustainable cities. It promotes cycling especially as a central project for green infrastructure. While the municipality has promoted the city’s “green-ness” and aims to continue this brand, the question being discussed analyzes where citizens stand on environmental and climate issues.

After correlating individual survey data and responses, the results show that while Copenhagener’s definitely recognize climate change and current environmental threats, they are not as concerned as there governing body. The levels of concerned shared by the citizen population do not quite match up with the green image promoted by the city municipality.

This can be attributed to the municipality’s high level of dedication to upholding Copenhagen’s sustainable city brand as well as on a citizen level with variations of concern and action depending on demographic characteristics such as length of residency in the city, neighborhood, commute times, etc. An accord between ideals for action to address climate change was found between the city’s plans for Copenhagen’s sustainable development and the respondents’ supported means of citizen action. Both centralize on resource consumption, renewable energy, and public transportation. These shared ideals suggest that while both parties may not be on the same level regarding environmental concern and activism, they both are on the same page regarding what should be done to address the threat of climate change.

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Report I.

The Issue Citizen perception of and subsequent action towards climate change can differ from the image presented by governing bodies. The national images created by these entities may overshadow the actual level of understanding and concern of its people. Copenhagen’s current culture includes sustainable practices that its citizens perform or use habitually. For example, the municipality notes the large percentage of Copenhageners who commute by public transportation and cycling, a major factor in its designs for establishing Copenhagen as a model sustainable city. Also, much of the power used in citizen’s homes and businesses comes from largely renewable sources, including wind, solar, and biomass. These, among other elements, are initiatives maintained by the city’s governing bodies that have become commonplace in Copenhagen culture, lifestyle, and image and, as such, may be performed out of habit rather than citizen activism or knowledge of climate impact.

Citizen’s true perceptions and response towards climate change can be different from the habits being practiced. What do residents actually think about such topics? To create a more accurate representation of the actual perceptions requires directly asking the people themselves.

The way they respond to climate questions will reveal how in tune citizen perception and government action are towards the topic. And this matters because many of the projects the government intends to implement rely on citizen participation and thus depend on an accord of ideas, particularly concern for climate change and environmental issues.

II. The Research & Findings A. Asking the People: Survey Data and Sourcing

In order to correlate individual opinions of citizens, this study analyzes survey responses.

Much of the response data for this study is drawn from the 2014 Copenhagen Area Survey. This survey, conducted by the survey firm Epinion, is a representative survey of 1093 residents living in Copenhagen and surrounding suburbs. The survey was conducted on-line, in Danish, and took on average of 17 minutes to complete. The response rate was 77%. The survey is meant to assess residents’ quality of life and their opinions on major issues of the day. Specific environmental questions are analyzed and compared with more general demographic questions related to age, area of residency, etc. Other survey data was collected from the World Wide Views, an institution started by the Danish Board of Technology, summit and survey conducted on Climate Change and global citizen opinions in 2009. 1 The conference brought citizens from all over the world in to present their views on environmental issues and potential solutions. The

1

Bedsted, Bjørn, and Lars Klüver. World Wide Views on Global Warming: From the World's Citizens to the Climate Policy-Makers: Policy Report. Copenhagen: Danish Board of Technology, 2009.

Web. 10 Mar. 2014.

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Copenhagen Bicycle Account 2012, a compilation of bicycling statistics and survey responses from Copenhagen’s Technical and Environmental Administration is referenced as well 2.

B. Denmark: Sustainability and Environmental Awareness: The governing bodies of Denmark and Copenhagen recognize the threat of climate change to be an important issue. Denmark itself is known for its high level of sustainable development and use of renewable energy sources. For example, the nation has enacted one of the World’s strictest building codes regarding new construction and building energy use. 3 Its legislative bodies have enacted requirements for corporate social responsibility regarding environmental impacts and have established an intensive goal to be independent of oil, coal, and gas by 2050. 4 As it stands currently, almost a third of the energy generated for use throughout the nation, and its energy-grid sharing neighbors, such as Germany and Sweden, comes from Denmark’s wind turbine system located both onshore and offshore. This percentage is intended to increase along with other means of “green” energy sources, such as solar power, wave power, and biomass in Denmark’s energy production, following along with the national plan to be using 100% renewable energy power by the 2050 deadline. 5 a. Copenhagen: Sustainability and “Green” Policy

More locally, Copenhagen has put forth progressive and determined plans to become more environmentally aware and “friendly.” It has put forth a climate plan addressing both the need for change and what the administration is intending to establish in the urban environment.

The plan’s components follow the national plan for carbon reduction and increase of use in renewable energies. The overall outcome of the plan and its initiatives has been specifically introduced with the intention for Copenhagen to become the first carbon neutral city by the year 2025. 6 The Copenhagen Climate Plan 2025 is ambitious with goals such as raising the number of people who commute by bicycling to 50% and reducing Copenhagen’s consumption of CO2 by at least 48%, bringing down the level from 2.5 million tons to less than 1.2 million tones. 7 Copenhagen’s culture has also created areas of specific interest in the government’s plans to make the city more sustainable. Starting in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, Copenhagen has developed into a bicycling city. With only a few thousand bikes across the city in those early years, the city has now built around the cyclist culture with over one hundred thousand trips being made per day as citizens make their way to and from work, school, and any other destination in the city and even beyond. 8 Bikers are prominent in the streets and have gained a high status among the city’s means of transportation, as the bike is “king” over cars, a concept 2

Copenhagen - City of Cyclists: Bicycle Account 2012. Copenhagen: City of Copenhagen, Traffic Department, 2013. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.

3 Energy Strategy 2050: From Coal, Oil and Gas to Green Energy. Copenhagen: Danish Government, 2011. Web. 4 Ibid.

5 Ibid.

6 "Copenhagen: CPH Climate Plan 2025." The C40 Siemens City Climate Leadership Awards. Siemens, 2013 Web. 10 Mar. 2014.

7 Ibid.

8 City of Copenhagen's Bicycle Strategy 2011-2025. Copenhagen: City of Copenhagen, Technical and Environmental Administration, 2011. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.

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very foreign to other parts of Europe and especially Northern America. 9 In light of this heavily ingrained means of travel, Copenhagen has seen the improvement and expansion of the city’s bicycle infrastructure as an integral piece of its mission to be an “Environmental Capital.” 10 This relates back the Copenhagen Climate Plan 2025 goal of increasing the number of cyclists in the city, as the government has allocated more funds towards making cycling a safer, more convenient and accessible means of transportation in the hopes that it will encourage more citizens to use the bicycle.

Copenhagen’s recent recognition as the Green Capital of Europe for 2014, as well as its reputation for cycling infrastructure, renewable energy generation, and building codes, have led many to view the nation as a model for sustainability, specifically sustainable cities, a characterization that it is working to maintain and proliferate as its climate plans are taken underway. When looking at the specific cultural elements that make up the Danish, or more specifically Copenhagen, lifestyle, cycling is of course one of the first topics to be mentioned as an example of sustainable culture. The activity adds no emissions while providing exercise and transportation. The city government has done much to improve cycling infrastructure, from widening cycle lanes to establishing the Green Wave, a guaranteed means for a quick commute because cyclists traveling at twenty kilometers an hour will not run into red lights along their route. These efforts have made the city a model biking city and led to applause for its progressive move towards sustainable transportation. 11

13

14

15 12

12

Figure 1: Copenhagen’s Green Awards and Cycle Promotion

In recognition of these successes, the European Commission named Copenhagen the 2014 Green Capital. The Commission praised the city as a “transport pioneer” for its development of cycling infrastructure, its success as a biking city and its goals toward increasing the number of cyclists. 13 The organization mentions this initiative as an integral part of the city’s plan to reduce of CO2 emissions and one of the key factors for its choice of Copenhagen. In the city’s application for the Green Capital selection, it itself mentions its biking culture and the 9

City of Copenhagen's Bicycle Strategy 2011-2025.

"2014 – Copenhagen | European Green Capital." European Green Capital. European Commission, 2014. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.

11 Jacobsen, Henriette. "Bicycle-Friendly Copenhagen: A Model for Big Cities." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 14 Dec. 2009. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.

12 "Copenhagenize Origins." Bicycle Culture by Design. Copenhagenization.com, Web. 09 May 2014.

13 "2014 – Copenhagen | European Green Capital." European Green Capital.

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city’s status as “the world’s best city for cyclists.” It notes the reduction of emissions as one of the main factors in which the prevalence of cycling makes it a candidate for a leading green city. 14 15 16 The award has drawn more attention and recognition from various foreign observers for the city municipality’s development and progress in developing its largely famous cyclingfriendly streets as well as its plans for carbon reduction, which adds to the perceived image of the “green” Copenhagener. A key factor mentioned in using Copenhagen as a model for urban development or what has come to be called “Copenhagenization” is the sizable emissions cut that comes with the Danish cycle culture. 17 The city municipality itself takes pride in the level of developed biking infrastructure and is continually working to expand it, while also making cycling safer and ever more prevalent.18 As this example illustrates, the city cares deeply about sustainability and has focused on certain areas to develop these interests.

Where the government has shown concern for climate change and environmental sustainability issues the greater public’s view may not show the same level of concern. As mentioned previously, across the world there have been countless instances of governments not following in line with their citizens’ views. 19 This creates the potential for the state to actually be less “green” than it is perceived. Examining the actual opinions of Copenhagen’s citizens allows for the true feelings of the general population to been seen and compared to the greater perspective of the city. Such analysis allows for a further breakdown in the opinions of the people, revealing where and what characteristics or variables affect the ultimate outcome of feeling.

C. Citizens’ Perceptions of the Seriousness and Threat of Climate Change:

Figure 2: Copenhageners' Reasons for Cycling to and from Work/Eduction, 2012 It's Faster It's More Convenient It's Cheap It's Healthy Well-Being/Good Way to Start the Day New Job/Relocation Environmental/Climate Concern

12% 9% 5% 0%

37% 29% 26%

10%

20%

56%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Source: Copenhagen Bicycle Account 2012

The city’s development of better cycling infrastructure is largely supported by its citizens. Cycling is part of their lifestyles and culture; it is almost like an act of patriotism to participate. 20 However, while municipalities pride the cycling culture for aiding the city’s 14

"2014 – Copenhagen | European Green Capital." European Green Capital.

Ibid.

16 City of Copenhagen's Bicycle Strategy 2011-2025.

17 Jacobsen, Henriette. "Bicycle-Friendly Copenhagen: A Model for Big Cities."

18 City of Copenhagen's Bicycle Strategy 2011-2025.

19 Ibid.

20 Copenhagen - City of Cyclists: Bicycle Account 2012.

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“green-ness” and sustainable goals, very few citizens say that they bike for environmental reasons. Rather, as the Copenhagen Bicycle Account 2012 has found, Copenhageners bike for the reasons of ease and speed of transportation over the environmental benefits. Those who biked to work or school because it was faster than other forms of transportation made up 56% of the survey respondents. The second most popular reason at 37% was the convenience of cycling in the city. Only 5% said they cycled for environmental and climate concerns. 21 This suggests a disconnect in the perception of cycling and its benefits between the citizen viewpoint and that of the municipality. The data also shows that Copenhageners are not cycling as a form of citizen activism and suggest that there is no real connection between cycling and environmental concern at the individual level. This serves as one example of a disconnect between the perceived overall green image of Copenhagen. While the municipality may develop and support the cycling culture for its low emission and other “green” aspects, its citizens do not appear to share the same reasoning and impetus.

While the lack of environmental reasoning behind citizens’ cycling habits may challenge the perception that Copenhageners are “green” minded for foreign observers, it definitely not the only aspect that could imply environmental activism and awareness at the individual level. There are countless number of factors that can play into the sustainability mindset and practice. One of the major elements that can affect opinion and perception is the level of information an individual has regarding a subject. In this case, the question is asked in the comparison between the level of understanding and concern regarding such measures may be different at the citizen and municipality level. While governing bodies may be able to make decisions regarding climate and environmental policy based on their vast scope of resources, the amount of information that makes its way down to individual citizens has been found to be lacking. Based on studies regarding citizen awareness and access to information regarding environmental states, it is suggested that the level of information that average citizens are given on climate change and the current statuses of environmental issues on local and global scales affects how citizens behave in response towards climate issues.

World Wide Views Climate Change 2009, a summit regarding opinions of climate change across the world, found that when citizens from different parts of the world were given “balanced” information regarding environmental issues and were asked to present proposals regarding the issue of climate change, the citizens pushed for stricter and harsher environmental policy changes. 22 The study included four thousand participants from thirty-eight different countries and asked them about their understanding of climate issues, presented them with a variety of sources and data regarding their national and global environment. The participants were then asked to discuss their opinions on the subject matter and to put forth measures they felt would address the environmental issues faced in modern society, including emission levels, consumption of resources, pollution, etc. The participants were grouped together by their country of residence and as one unit represented their nation’s greater population23.

21

Copenhagen - City of Cyclists: Bicycle Account 2012.

Bedsted, Bjørn, and Lars Klüver. World Wide Views on Global Warming: From the World's Citizens to the Climate Policy-Makers: Policy Report.

23 Ibid.

22

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Figure 3: Danish Citizens' Level of Familiarity with the Issue of Climate Change & Its Concequences, 2009 2% Not Familiar at All

15%

Only a Little Familiar

31%

Somewhat Familier Very Familier

53% Source: World Wide Views, Climate Change Survey 2009

The results of Denmark’s participation showed that 33% of the nation’s participants felt they knew little to nothing regarding climate change before taking part in the World Wide Views study. Only 15% felt they were well informed coming into the study, with the rest noting they knew some things about the climate issue. After being presented the information at the study, 79% said they felt fairly to very concerned about the issues of climate change. 24 The study then went to ask more specific questions regarding opinions on how urgently a global climate policy is needed as well as its level of priority for national governments and more specific issues regarding climate change and the enforcement of environmental policy. The results from Denmark’s participants showed an increase in the level of concern and urgency felt towards developing a global climate action plan and enforcing a strict compliance policy after being given the informational resources regarding environmental data and information.

Figure 4: Danish and Copenhagen Citizens' Level of Concern about Climate Change 100% 80%

Danish Citizens

60%

Copenhagen Citizens

40% 20% 0% Very to Fairly Concerned Slightly to Not Concerned

Sources: World Wide Views, Climate Change 2009 & Copenhagen Area Survey 2014, n=1062

The results from the WWW study are reflected in a more recent study surveying a large selection of Copenhageners specifically, the 2014 Copenhagen Area Survey.

24

Bedsted, Bjørn, and Lars Klüver. World Wide Views on Global Warming: From the World's Citizens to the Climate Policy-Makers: Policy Report.

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When asked about the seriousness of the threat of climate change and given a scale from not serious to very serious, a relative majority of 46% of respondents see the issue of climate change as a very serious threat. Combined with those seeing the issue as somewhat of a serious threat, the higher median on the scale, concern for the threat of climate change holds a majority of 77% of the respondents’ opinions. The remaining 23% fell along the lines of seeing little to no concern at all towards the seriousness of the issue of climate change.

This shows an overall similarity in the stance the government has taken towards climate change. While the city may portray a more serious view, part of the relative majority seeing it as a very pressing concern, the public generally follows the same view, but at a less immediate measure. The difference in opinion, from the not seriousness to very serious, can arise from divergent backgrounds comprising of age, gender, regional location, etc. 25 Figure 5: View of Climate Change in Relation to Type of Neighborhood 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

City Neighborhood Suburban Neighborhood % of Those Viewing % Of Those Viewing Climate Change as a Very Climate Change as Not a Serious Problem Problem

Source: Copenhagen Area Survey 2014, for CPH, n=1062

Looking into the background of the respondents, particularly with their current living situations and locations, we compared the responses from those living in the Copenhagen city and the Copenhagen suburbs for any significant difference in opinion (Areas). Living in more urban environments results in greater exposure to industrial pollution and generally less access to open green space or natural elements.26 Cities are also one of the major contributors to climate change, as they are responsible for almost 80% of the world’s energy production and emit over 60% of its carbon pollutants 27. Depending on the situation of the city and how well its planning addresses those issues, citizens living in these areas can be more affected by these conditions then their suburban counterparts who in most cases have greater exposure to the natural environment. While 40% of suburban residents viewed climate change as a very serious problem, a full 50% of those living in Copenhagen city view climate change as a very serious problem. 28

25

Lorenzoni, Irene, and Nick Pidgeon. “Public Views on Climate Change: European and USA Perspectives.” Climactic Change. 73.1-2 (2006): 73-95. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.

26 Ibid.

27 Energy Strategy 2050: From Coal, Oil and Gas to Green Energy.

28 Emerson, Michael Olaf. Copenhagen Area Survey 2014. Kinder Institute. May 2014.

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Figure 6: Decline in View of Climate Change being "Very Serious" over Length of Residency in CPH 60%

10 or Less Years of Residency

40%

11 to 30 Years of Residency

20%

50%

42%

37%

Over 30 Years of Residency

0% % of Those Viewing Climate Change as a Serious Problem

Source: Copenhagen Area Study 2014, n=1057

The length of residency in one place can also be a contributing factor when assessing threats to personal health and livelihood. Looking at respondents’ length of residence in Copenhagen and how that may influence opinion, we compared the data relating their responses to the severity of climate change and how long they have resided at their current address in Copenhagen. Half of the participants living in Copenhagen for ten years or less felt climate change was a very serious threat. This decreased to 42% for respondents who lived in Copenhagen for over ten years to 30 years and then to 37% for those who had lived in Copenhagen for more than 30 years. 29 This trend shows a slight decrease overtime in concern as the length of time spent in the same Copenhagen residence lengthens. Such a decrease could be attributed to becoming comfortable in one’s lifestyle and being accustomed to certain amenities, not considering how they came to be and at what cost they come with to the greater environmental scale.

Figure 7: Climate Change as a "Very Serious" Problem over Length of Commute 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

10 Minutes or Less 11-30 Minutes

63% 40%

38%

33%

% of Those Viewing Climate Change as a Very Serious Problem

30-60 Minutes Over 60 Minutes

Source: Copenhagen Area Survey 2014, n=1062

A similar trend in decreasing concern arose when comparing commute lengths and view of climate issues. 63% of respondents with work commutes of 10 minutes or less felt climate change was a very serious problem. 40% said very serious for those commuting from more than 10 minutes to half an hour. 38% of those commuting from over a half an hour to an hour said climate change was a serious problem. 33% of those commuting over an hour felt climate change was a serious problem.30 There is a noticeable shift in opinion regarding climate change as very 29 30

Emerson, Michael Olaf. Copenhagen Area Survey 2014.

Ibid.

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serious problem as respondents commutes lengthen. This suggests that as greater distances must be travelled to complete a daily commute, the less concern will be placed on environmental factors or issues. However, despite the decline in severity, the data shows a definite recognition of climate change at a moderate level issue regardless of commute length.

Looking at the age of respondents did not bring up any significant correlations. Across the various age groups 80% of each felt the threat of climate change was a somewhat to very serious problem.31 There were no great differences in opinion depending on how old the respondent was. This shows that across the population, Copenhageners’ ages do not reflect any specific influence on their concern about climate issues.

Overall, the data shows that the majority of Copenhagen citizens does recognize and have some concern regarding the threat of climate change. This falls in line with the concern their government has, though the degree to which the issue is viewed as severe may not quite reach that of the city administration. It is also apparent that the divide between to the two becomes greater as commutes, as well as duration of residency, increase.

D. Denmark’s spending on Environmental Protection

As previously discussed, Denmark has been a leader in environmental program developments for renewable energy and energy use, building codes, etc. Its government has paid attention and allotted a sizable sum of its funds to establishing more sustainably minded programs 32. As seen in Copenhagen particularly, special concern and spending has been put on cycling infrastructure and public transportation, as well as promotion of using such means of transportation with the intent of driving up the number of daily cyclists and lowering the number of cars33. While the government has found such “green” initiatives to be an important expense, this could be a different stance then that of its residents.

Figure 8: Danish Citizens' Opinion on National Spending and Environmental Protection and Improvement 8%

Too Little Enough

38%

Too Much

54%

Source: Copenhagen Area Survey 2014, for Denmark, n=907

When surveying those living in Copenhagen, its city center and greater suburban areas, we asked their opinion towards the amount of money being spent by the government on environmental protection and preservation. The base results of the greater number of participants showed that 54% believed that the government was spending too little on environmental improvement and protection. Only 8% felt the national government was spending too much. This 31

Emerson, Michael Olaf. Copenhagen Area Survey 2014.

Energy Strategy 2050: From Coal, Oil and Gas to Green Energy.

33 Ibid.

32

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shows a large level of support for the implementation and progress of environmental initiatives specifically run by Copenhagen’s government. The results suggest that the citizens may not view the municipality’s existing plans as doing enough in regards to environmental protection measures. However, the remaining 38% of respondents saying that the government is spending the right amount on environmental protections does indicate that there is some level of trust and support in how the government has and is addressing environmental issues. That being said the percentage of those feeling it spends too little is quite high.

Taking this significant difference, we then looked at a variety of factors that could play into these opinions, comparing responses in regards to area of residency, length of residency, age, gender, among other variables and cross examined them with the survey results to find factors that influence the participants’ responses and could indicate where and why individuals followed or deviated from the larger body, equating to a majority of participants.

Figure 9: Views on Denmark's Environmental Spending over Length of Residency in Copenhagen 60

State is Spending Too Little

40

State is Spending Enough

20

State is Spending Too Much

0 10 or Less Years 11 to 30 Years

Over 30 Years Source: Copenhagen Area Survey 2014, n=902

One of the variables explored, as in the previous section, was the length of residence in Copenhagen to see if that affected opinions on Denmark’s spending. Of the individuals living in Copenhagen for 10 or less years, a majority of 58% said more needed to be spent on environmental protection. Only 7% of respondents felt Denmark was spending too much on the issue. The remaining 35% of those respondents said that enough was being spent on environmental protection. Of those living in Copenhagen from 11 to 30 years, 50% felt more needed to be spent, 42% felt enough was being spent, and 8% said too much was being spent. Of those living in Copenhagen for over 30 years 43% said more was needed to be spent,15% said there was too much being spent, and 42% said enough was being spent on environmental protection. 34 This shows a deviation in opinion as residency lengthens, as those living in the area for a longer period of time felt the government was spending enough or too much while those who have been there for a shorter period of time felt the government needs to do more in regards to environmental protection spending. This compliments the previously discussed analysis of length of residency and the seriousness of climate change. The longer citizens resided in their current residences, the less concerned they felt regarding climate change and what the government was doing to combat it.

Looking to see if similar congruencies were seen among the variables previously referenced, the city verse suburban neighborhoods were again examined to see if they could describe the strong outcome. This determined that 59% of respondents living in the Copenhagen city area felt Denmark was spending too little on improving and protecting the environment, 34

Emerson, Michael Olaf. Copenhagen Area Survey 2014.

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compared to only 47% of those residing in the Copenhagen suburbs. 35 The data shows a significant divide between urban and suburban residents, one much more distinctive then the previous scenario. This can be attributed to city inhabitants being more aware of the government’s environmental programs in their urban neighborhoods. The urban center, as mentioned before, creates greater exposure to the effects of unsustainable industrial lifestyle by which cities operate, a problem area that the government has been vocal in addressing by means of renewable energy, bike infrastructure, etc.

The other variables of age and gender, analyzed earlier against personal climate change concerns, did not show any significant results or markers as influencers in the citizens’ opinions.

The overall result of the greater respondents felt that Denmark spent too little or just the right amount on environmental protection. Across the different scenarios analyzed, the response called for more funding to be used and devoted to environmental protection. This suggests that the level at which the government is handling climate change, through its spending on projects and programs, is not the same on which its population stands.

As previously concluded, both parties are aware and concerned about the threat of climate change, but appear to differ in certain areas. Where the city administration has put environmental concerns and developing a sustainable city in light of climate issues at a very urgent and high level of concern, the greater Copenhagen pubic, where only a plurality view the threat of climate change to be a very serious problem, may not share the same urgency as presented by the city’s action and climate plans and goals for “greening” the city. However, when it comes to government spending, citizens show that they feel not enough is being allocated to environmental protection and improvement, especially those in areas. This suggests that citizens recognize the threat of climate change as a problem, but feel it is more of the government’s responsibility to address it.

E. Humanity’s role and responsibility for climate change

The need for information sharing and the subsequent forming of opinions is a wellestablished vital element in determining an individual’s response and action towards a topic. In the case of environmental issues and climate change, public perception and action has been seen as the basis for the development and progression in environmental policy and regulations. When individuals perceive a level of significance towards the current state and treatment of the environment and feel a sense of responsibility and control over climate change, they tend to push for more action36. In the discussion of public views about climate and environmental issues, it has been proposed that the future of climate change and the activism surrounding it will rely on how informed and considerate citizens are on the subject 37. Thus, it can be inferred that whether or not individuals actively change their behaviors relative to climate change is dependent on the knowledgeability of the individual and how connected or responsible they feel about the issue. If they feel responsibility for maintaining the environment, they are more likely to change their behaviors to conserve it.

To investigate this possibility we examined their responses in regards to human causation of climate change and then went further to determine citizen responsibility for addressing the 35

Emerson, Michael Olaf. Copenhagen Area Survey 2014.

Lorenzoni, Irene, and Nick Pidgeon. “Public Views on Climate Change: European and USA Perspectives.”

37 Ibid.

36

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issue. It would be assumed that those individuals who felt the threat of climate was of little to no concern would not view global warming and climate change to be the result of human activities.

This assumption would also be relevant to their perception of citizen responsibility for addressing climate change.

Figure 10: Humanity's Responsibility for Climate Change and Global Warming Yes, humans are responsible

32% 63% 5%

Figure 11: Citizen Responsibility for Addressing Climate Change 4% 5%

No, humans are not responsible I don't know

Yes, citizens are responsible

91%

No, citizens are not responsible I don't know

Figures 10 & 11: Poll of Respondents who viewed climate change as Somewhat to Very concerning.

Source: Copenhagen Area Survey 2014, n=690

Of the total participants, 63% believed global warming and climate change are caused by humans. Only 5% disagreed completely, but the remaining 32% did not know. When asked about the responsibility of citizens in the combating of climate change and environmental degradation, 57% of the total participants believed it was definitely a responsibility for themselves and their peers. Only 2% disagreed completely while 40% did not know. 38 When conducting the comparative analysis of these responses with residential locality, age, and gender did not bring up any significant correlations. These variables appear to not have an influence when regarding the causation and responsibility for climate issues. Despite this, the data gathered related to these topics can be used to study what citizens do or feel they should do to personally address environmental concerns.

F. How citizens should participate in combating Climate Change

The level of responsibility an individual feels towards conserving their environment can be influenced by the level of engagement they feel with their community. When people feel a sense of loyalty and community they are more apt to make an effort to preserve what they feel connected to. In Copenhagen’s case, Copenhageners have been found to have a great sense of community and loyalty to their city. In its deliberation of the Green Capital, the European Commission praised the city for its engagement with its citizens, noting that because of the effective connection Copenhageners felt like they were part of the city’s progress towards a more sustainable and “green” community. 39 Of the survey’s participants, 77% of the overall respondents felt the threat of climate change was a very to somewhat serious problem. Of these participants, 83% believed global warming and climate change is caused by humans. Going even further, 91% of those seeing a 38 39

Emerson, Michael Olaf. Copenhagen Area Survey 2014.

"2014 – Copenhagen | European Green Capital." European Green Capital.

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connection between humanity and climate change felt citizens themselves should be doing more to address climate change. 40 We then looked deeper into which particular ways Copenhageners felt citizens should to do more to combat climate change, giving examples that have been considered helpful by individuals around the world. The responses showed a generally high rate of support for typically defined “green” strategies. 76% supported more personal use of renewable energy. 71% supported the reduction of municipal water usage. 68% supported the reduction of personal consumption. 79% supported the use of public transportation. The only area where support faltered was in supported participation in local green initiatives where only 31% supported the idea as a means of citizen action. 41 Figure 12: Respondent Support for Citizen Action Participate in Local Green Initiatives Use Public Transportation Reduction of Personal Consumption

No

Reduction of Municipal Water Usage

Yes

More Personal Use of Renewable Energy 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Source: Copenhagen Area Survey 2014, n=626

a. Analysis of responses and where support comes from

The difference in supportive responses regarding the suggestion of participating in local green initiatives is quite striking in comparison to the large amounts of support given to the other examples. Local green initiatives are generally voluntarily run with most, if not all, of their support and ongoing operation coming from individuals who have donated their time and effort to support causes that mean something to them. It involves giving commitment to a cause based around work and leisure hours. If there is not a large population of citizens who have or are used to volunteering, there may be less support regarding those means of action.

Figures 12 & 13: Copenhageners’ View on Local Green Initiatives and Citizen Action Breakdown of Total Support for Local Green Initiatives

45% 55%

40 41

Volunteered in the Past Year

25% 47% 75%

53%

Did not Volunteer in the Past Year

Emerson, Michael Olaf. Copenhagen Area Survey 2014.

Ibid.

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In Copenhagen’s case, of the total survey participants, 45% of respondents said they partook in volunteer at least one activity in or for an organization in the last year. Of those 45% who took part in volunteer activities, only 25% supported participating in local green initiatives as a means of public action. Looking back at the results for green community initiatives, 47% of those in support said they had not been a part of volunteering initiatives, while the remaining 53% had done volunteer work in the last year. This means that while more than half of the support for volunteering in local green initiatives comes from those familiar with volunteering in some form, the difference was not very much. The data results suggest that support for local green initiatives is not significantly affected by existing community involvement. Those already involved with volunteer organizations were not overly inclined to support the participation in green local initiatives, another form of volunteering, as a means for citizens to combat climate change and global warming.

Findings regarding ages and genders, as well as length of residency in Copenhagen did not create any significant differences suggesting influences over individuals’ responses.

However, when comparing area of residency in Copenhagen the data showed a significant difference between individuals living in the city area versus the outer suburbs. Of the survey respondents living in the Copenhagen city area, 38% supported local green initiatives as a means of citizen action for responding to climate change. Of the respondents living in the Copenhagen suburbs, 30% supported local initiatives as a means for citizen action.42 The results suggest that individuals living in the city would be more receptive to participating in local green initiatives over their suburban counterparts.

While the exact reason why Copenhageners were not supportive of participation in local green initiatives as a means for citizens to take responsibility for their effect on climate change is not distinctly determinable from the survey conducted, some conclusions can be drawn when comparing the consensus regarding other means of citizen action. Looking at their responses to other options shows that perhaps the time and control of commitment to such initiatives makes them less of a desirable type of action. The other options allowed for less of a direct or timeconsuming change in a person’s day. There is minimal change needed to shorten showers or reduce what its bought and consumed as opposed to taking time out of your day and week to engage in another activity.

Further examination of the citizens responses regarding viable citizen action, the trends in the survey data show support for citizen initiative along the lines of the same principles covered by the government’s Climate Plan. The CPH Climate Plan, discussed earlier, is based around four central areas including energy consumption, energy, mobility, and city administration43.

Each of these focus areas can find a kinship with the responses of the surveyed citizens. A majority of those who responded supported the reduction of personal consumption, including water and energy use, and the increase in use of renewable energies. Both fall in line with the topics covered by the action plan covering energy consumption and energy as a whole. There was also strong support for improving and increasing use of public transportation systems and bicycling infrastructure. This fits with the government’s plan to expand public transportation and cycling networks. The last area of focus, city administration, puts pressure on the government to be responsible for establishing sustainable initiative. The result of the survey and the WWW study demonstrate that Copenhagen’s citizens hold the city’s administration responsible for 42 43

Emerson, Michael Olaf. Copenhagen Area Survey 2014.

"Copenhagen: CPH Climate Plan 2025." The C40 Siemens City Climate Leadership Awards.

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developing and enacting environmental protections to combat climate change, calling for stricter legislation and more spending going towards environmental protections and preservation.

III. Conclusions & Implications

Overall it appears that Copenhagen’s citizens are aware and concerned about the threat of climate change. Copenhageners also connect the problems of climate change and global warming as issues created or propelled by humans and feel responsible for doing something to combat the issue at a personal level as well as on the government level. While these levels of concern and call to action are not as high as those projected by its government, through its aggressive and ambitious action plans and legislation, there is a definite recognition of the problem developing in the world’s greater environment. In addressing humanity’s and, more specifically, citizen responsibility in taking action to minimize or combat the onslaught of climate change and global warming, Copenhageners are open to making lifestyle changes in their daily lives.

These changes follow in suit with what their government has planned for the development of a sustainable city community, addressing consumption of energy, water, and other resources, promoting the use of more renewables and less pollution and emissions from transportation, and holding the government accountable for its ability to establish better, healthier means of operating the city. This progressive thinking fits in line with the outside perspective that Copenhagen, the city infrastructure and its inhabitants, are aware and active in addressing climate change and the move to establishing a more sustainable lifestyle and environment.

That being said, while citizens do fulfill that image regarding environmental awareness and concern, the city administration itself takes a more progressive role in actively responding to the threat of climate change. Citizens concern regarding such topics has been found to be especially influenced by locality, duration of residency and commute length, as individuals in more suburban areas or those with longer Copenhagen residency or commutes are less likely to feel high levels of concern and responsibility regarding climate change and environmental threats. Citizens of urban neighborhoods, as well as those of new residency or shorter commutes are more likely to feel more concern and personal responsibility towards those topics. This responsibility directs support for citizen action regarding personal consumption and energy use over local green volunteering and, as mentioned before, relates back to the areas the city administration has set to address. This implies that while the city and the citizens are not exactly on the same level in regards to climate and environmental action, there is an accord regarding what should be done to address the problem.

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Bedsted, Bjørn, and Lars Klüver. World Wide Views on Global Warming: From the World's Citizens to the Climate Policy-Makers: Policy Report. Copenhagen: Danish Board of Technology, 2009.

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"Copenhagen: CPH Climate Plan 2025." The C40 Siemens City Climate Leadership Awards. Siemens, 2013 Web. 10 Mar. 2014.

"Copenhagenize Origins." Bicycle Culture by Design. Copenhagenization.com, Web. 09 May 2014.

Emerson, Michael Olaf. Copenhagen Area Study 2014. Kinder Institute. May 2014.

Energy Strategy 2050: From Coal, Oil and Gas to Green Energy. Copenhagen: Danish Government, 2011. Web. Jacobsen, Henriette. "Bicycle-Friendly Copenhagen: A Model for Big Cities." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 14 Dec. 2009. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.

Lorenzoni, Irene, and Nick Pidgeon. “Public Views on Climate Change: European and USA Perspectives.” Climactic Change. 73.1-2 (2006): 73-95. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.

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