Do Public Perceptions of the Environment Align With Empirical Measures?

TL;DR

This study compares public perceptions of the environment in New Zealand with scientific data to identify areas of agreement and disagreement.

Contribution

The novel contribution is a comprehensive comparison of public and expert environmental perceptions across ten domains using a nationally representative survey.

Findings

Public ratings of air quality aligned with empirical data and expert opinions.

Perceptions of rivers and lakes were lowest, matching scientific assessments.

For most domains, the public viewed the environment more positively than scientific evidence suggests.

Abstract

To create effective environmental communications and policies, it is crucial to understand how laypeople, scientists, and experts perceive the environment. This study, based on a large‐scale, nationally representative survey from Aotearoa New Zealand and scientific reports and literature, examines the similarities and differences in perceptions across ten environmental domains: air; protected natural areas; native bush and forests; marine environments; coastal waters and beaches; marine plants and animals; terrestrial (land and freshwater) plants and animals; natural environments in towns and cities; wetlands; and rivers and lakes. The New Zealand public rated their air quality highest and rivers and lakes lowest, aligning with empirical measures and expert opinions. For other domains, public perceptions varied, often seeing the overall state as better than what the scientific studies indicated. These discrepancies highlight the complex factors influencing perceptions, such as public awareness, visibility, familiarity with environmental issues, and media influence. By highlighting these similarities and differences, we aim to help laypeople, scientists, and policymakers recognise their perceptual biases, improve communication of scientific findings, and assist in creating regulations that involve the entire community in environmental improvement.

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