INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC-OPINION ON THE ENVIRONMENT

This article analyzes public opinion data on environmental issues coll ected in two major surveys. The data reveal substantial concern about the environment in both developing and industrial countries along with perceptions that the quality of the environment has declined and will continue to decline. Developing country respondents rate their local and national environmental quality lower than do industrial country re spondents, whereas both groups rate global environmental quality about the same. The data also reveal considerable willingness among the dev eloping and industrial countries to accept responsibility for the worl d's environmental problems and recognition of the importance of govern ments in addressing local and national environmental issues and of str ong international agencies in addressing transnational issues.