Najib Saab

The Arab public is ready to pay more for energy and water and embrace changes in consumption patterns if this will help preserve resources and protect the environment, according to a survey carried out by Arab Forum for Environment and Development in 22 countries. However, good intentions and wishes of the public, as demonstrated in the survey results, are not enough, as putting change into action requires the introduction of appropriate enabling conditions by governments. While public awareness and education are important tools to demonstrate the benefits of sustainable consumption on human health and the environment, regulations and incentives are indispensable to transform intentions into action. Implementing energy and water conservation measures on a large scale requires revising subsidies.

Renewable energy will not be deployed extensively as long as conventional fuels are sold at fraction of their real market price. Equally, phasing out subsidies needs to be accompanied by direct economic and social benefits, mainly job creation, providing education and health coverage, alongside securing appropriate income levels and pension schemes. The full results of the survey will be revealed at AFED annual conference on Nov. 16 in Beirut.As safeguarding the environment and ensuring sustainable management of natural resources are the main driving concerns for sustainable consumption patterns, the survey also examined public attitudes regarding some general environmental challenges, focusing on water, energy and food. This allowed comparison with previous surveys carried by AFED on public opinion attitudes toward environmental challenges in 2006, and on climate change in 2009 (AFED, 2009). Comparison was also made with a survey carried out by Al-BiaWal-Tanmia (Environment and Development) magazine in 2000.

Among the 31,000 people surveyed in the 22 members of the League of Arab States, 72 percent indicated that the environmental situation in their countries worsened over the past 10 years (82 percent in Lebanon). This constitutes over 20 percent increase over the negative classification in 2006 survey, which then stood at 60 percent. It is interesting to note that the 2006 results showed a big improvement over 2000 survey, when 85 percent said that the environmental situation worsened. This means that what the Arab public saw as a gain for the environment between 2000 and 2006 was wiped out between 2006 and 2015. The biggest drop in confidence was recorded in countries that witnessed wars and conflicts. Tunisia presents a salient example, as in 2006 it recorded the highest percentage of people who thought the environment became better (54 percent), while in 2015 this dropped to just 4 percent, with 84 percent saying it worsened and 12 percent saying it has not changed. Across the region, an average of 82 percent thought that governments were not doing enough to tackle environmental challenges. The majority of those dissatisfied were in Lebanon, Palestine and Sudan (over 90 percent in the three countries, reaching 99 percent in Lebanon).

Solid waste management, traffic congestion and inefficiency of water and energy use scored as the top environmental challenges, followed by industrial pollution, air quality, wastewater disposal and food safety. As to the impact of climate change, 88 percent indicated that this posed a real threat to their countries – a 5 percent increase over those who answered likewise in 2006.

The AFED Sustainable Consumption survey revealed acceptable levels of public awareness on environmental matters related to consumption patterns. While 72 percent of the respondents were aware that the Arab region was the world’s poorest in water resources, 77 percent knew that the level of water and energy consumption in some Arab countries is among the highest. Asked to identify the main reason behind high water and energy consumption at the household level, a majority of 46 percent attributed the wasteful behavior to lack of awareness. A mere 6 percent put the blame on subsidies, with the highest scores as compared to the regional average coming from Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait (46, 19 and 18 percent).

This can be explained by the fact that the three countries witnessed heated debates on the issue over the past two years, with six countries endorsing phasing out of subsidies.

Another example showing that informed official positions help shape public opinion is that 85 percent of the respondents said they used energy-saving lamps, while only 45 percent used water-saving devices at home. This is a result of the intensive programs which made energy-saving lamps available and easily accessible in the markets, including the distribution of free energy-saving bulbs in Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon and the UAE. This was in contrast to meager marketing support for water-saving devices.

As a follow up, participants were asked whether they were ready to pay more for water, electricity and fuel if this contributed to more sustainable use of natural resources. The question made the proposition conditional on compensating higher prices (as a result of phasing out subsidies) by offering direct benefits including higher salaries, better job opportunities, education, health and pension. Seventy-seven percent agreed to pay more when it came as part of a package, which is a clear indication that people accept change when supported by the right enabling conditions, including appropriate incentives.

Efficiency was the most important driving factor for most respondents (42 percent in the region, 63 percent in Lebanon) when buying a car or electrical appliance, which reflects more concern about saving energy. Brand name and price consecutively followed. Fuel and electricity saving was of less concern in countries where prices are highly subsidized, reaching a low of 16 percent for cars in Qatar, compared to a high of 72 percent in Jordan.

The survey revealed that an equal percentage of respondents used private cars and public transport as the main means of mobility (47 percent for each), with the remaining 6 percent using motorbikes and bicycles. The extensive use of private cars in the GCC countries – about 89 percent on average –is explained by higher income levels, very low fuel prices, and a lack of modern public transport systems. Lebanon was an exception, with a staggering 72 percent using private cars – a reflection of inadequate public transport systems.

Cost of food constituted the largest portion of the family income, compared to water and energy. Sixty-two percent of respondents (70 percent in Lebanon) spent over 10 percent of their income on food, while only 4 percent of respondents spent this same proportion of their income on water and electricity.

Changing dietary habits is a crucial issue, involving intricate social and cultural values and traditions. Dwindling water resources is likely to prevent countries from producing enough quantity of a certain traditional crop, like rice, for an ever growing population. The same applies to red meat, as raising cattle is a water-intensive activity. Moreover, cows produce a particularly high level of greenhouse gases, which intensifies climate change. Are people ready to shift to other products that are less water intensive and friendlier to the environment, such as alternative grains, fish and poultry? If the change in dietary habits would protect the environment, 84 percent of the respondents were ready to go for it. An astounding majority of 99 percent would change their habits if this would ensure their health, such as fighting obesity, diabetes and blood fats. Taking into consideration that what is better for the health is better for the environment, as most cases show, the results might indicate that a good approach is to put more emphasis on the health benefits, as these are more appreciated by the public.

The main conclusion of AFED’s public opinion survey on sustainable consumption patterns is that the Arab public is ready to endorse and implement profound changes in the way water, energy and food are consumed, provided that the shift is combined with appropriate enabling conditions and incentives. Alternative products and practices can only be popularized through measures that make them attainable and accessible at competitive prices.