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Publication - Research and analysis

Ocean literacy survey: headline findings

Published
18 November 2022
Directorate
Marine Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Marine and fisheries
ISBN
9781805250661

Headline findings from an online survey with the public in Scotland on the topic of ocean literacy - exploring the public's understanding of the marine environment. It is part of a wider project covering England and Wales.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Food, energy and transport actions

Virtually all (99%) switch off lights, heating and appliances to save energy, 90% reduce water usage and 87% walk, or cycle or take public transport instead of driving short distances. (Figure 24).

Figure 24: Frequency of food, energy and transport actions (weighted %)
a bar chart that illustrates the actions that respondents take in relation to food, energy and transport as reported in the previous paragraph.

Q21: Thinking about your food, energy and transport use, which of the following do you currently do?

Unweighted base: 3,055

Table 6: Frequency of food, energy and transport actions (weighted %)
Action Always Usually Sometimes Never Not applicable Summary: At least sometimes
Switch off lights, heating and appliances to save energy 55% 33% 11% 1% 0% 99%
Reduce water usage (e.g. taking fewer or shorter showers or fewer baths) 26% 34% 30% 9% 0% 90%
Walk, or cycle or take public transport instead of driving short distances 30% 25% 31% 7% 5% 87%
Compost food and/or green waste, or put food waste out for collection 48% 16% 13% 14% 8% 77%
Avoid running a vehicle's engine when the vehicle is not moving 42% 23% 11% 3% 20% 76%
Eat a more plant-based/ vegetarian diet 11% 15% 43% 30% 0% 69%
Burn less/not at all at home (e.g. in stoves, wood burners or open fires) 20% 13% 12% 10% 44% 45%

Dimensions

  • Behaviour
  • Communication
  • Knowledge
  • Awareness

While 44% of people use green energy utilities suppliers and 38% drive less polluting vehicles, only 13% generate renewable energy at home (Figure 25).

Figure 25: Utilities, vehicles and renewable energy (weighted %)
a bar chart that shows the actions if respondents use green energy utility suppliers, drive less polluting vehicles or generate renewable energy at home as reported in the previous paragraph.

Q21: Thinking about your food, energy and transport use, which of the following do you currently do?

Unweighted base: 3,055

Table 7: Utilities, vehicles and renewable energy (weighted %)
Action Yes No Not applicable/ Don't know
Use a green energy utilities supplier 44% 33% 23%
Drive a less polluting vehicle (i.e. with lower emissions) 38% 29% 33%
Generate renewable energy at home e.g. through solar panels 13% 83% 4%

Dimensions

  • Behaviour
  • Communication
  • Knowledge
  • Awareness

Contact

Email: socialresearch@gov.scot

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