NIMBYs Rule in Eurobarometer Survey on Shale Gas

Not in my back yard (NIMBY) sentiments are high in Europe as three quarters of the continent would be reluctant to have shale gas development in their neighborhoods. 

The European Commission published results of the Eurobarometer study that indicated the gross majority of Europeans would be concerned if shale gas projects were to be located close to their dwellings. 

The only question asked to over 25,000 participants in 27 member states was: “If a shale gas project were to be located in your neighborhood, do you think that you would be…” Answers ranged from: “very concerned” or “fairly concerned” to “not very concerned” or “not at all concerned" as well as “don’t know.”

Overall 74 percent of survey respondents said they would be concerned. 40 percent said very concerned and 34 percent would be fairly concerned.  20 percent would not be too concerned, with 13 percent saying they would not be very concerned and 7 percent would not be concerned at all.

The percentage of respondents stating they would be very concerned range from 54 percent in France and 52 percent in Austria to 16 percent in Poland and Hungary.

Western women more concerned

Eurostat summarized that respondents living in EU15 countries were more likely to be concerned (77 percent) over respondents from the 12 New Member States (61 percent). Women were found more likely to be concerned (79 percent) than men (69 percent).

There were significant differences amongst countries, with France at the top and Poland at the bottom of the list.

Over half of respondents in France, Austria, Ireland, Bulgaria and Germany say they would be very concerned, while Poland is the only country where less than a half of those surveyed said they would be very concerned or fairly concerned.

At the same time, the study indicates that 49 percent of Poles would be not very or not all concerned. Corresponding numbers for Denmark and Latvia were 30 percent, 29 percent for Hungary, and 28 percent in Belgium, 27 percent in Sweden and 26 percent in the Netherlands.

At the other end of the spectrum only 9 percent of French and 11 percent of Italians would be not very or not all concerned if a shale gas project were to be located in their neighborhood.

Only 1 percent of respondents in Ireland and 2 percent in France answered, “don’t know,” while the level of uncertainty in Hungary, Estonia and Malta was as high as 16 percent.

It should be also noted those countries where restrictions on hydraulic fracturing were introduced: Bulgaria, Czech Republic and notably France, are situated higher on the list.

Hungary and notably Poland, where exploratory drilling has been already conducted, which has the support from government and media, stood out at the other end of the list.

Air Quality Report

Results concerning public perception of shale gas were published as a part of the “Attitudes of Europeans towards Air Quality” study, which has yet to receive attention from the European media.

The study describes air quality in Europe, elaborates on allergies, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases caused by pollution, discusses main threats to and changes in the air quality over the last 10 years and a role of EU legislation in promoting clean air.

Opinions about shale gas projects were placed at the end of the report, as a part of the last chapter: “Impact of Energy Production and Use on Air Quality.”

TNS Political & Social, at the request of the European Commission, gathered data in September 2012.