ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN IN CONTEMPORARY BULGARIAN SOCIETY

Abstract

Development of human civilization in the twentieth century turn the problem of the environment into an existential one. In this context the environmental consiousness and behaviour of the population become a crucial factor. The article presents an analysis of information collected in the course of a representative empirical investigation in the region of Blagoevgrad in March 2010.
The information gives reason to make some basic conclusions. The actual behaviour of people is not adequate to declared interest and concern for the environmental situation. Action aimed at protecting the environment is associated mainly with the state or with collective change in behavior and in practice dominate patterns of individual behavior, which significantly differ from common in developed societies. Significant reserves for change exist in increasing awareness of population in practical terms. Promising directions is also attracting students to the cause for environment protection as well as the implementation of economic levers to stimulate and support proecological behavior and adoption of innovative practices But they should be supported with the creation of adequate organizational conditions for their realization.