Community Knowledge and Use of the National Pollutant Inventory
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Howes, Michael
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McBroom, James
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Abstract
Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs) have been established in many countries on the basis, at least partially, that community awareness will lead to pressure on polluters to reduce their emissions. In Australia, the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) was established to fulfil this role amongst others. The success of the NPI depends on the extent of engagement that the general population and pro-environment community groups have with the program. This research aims to determine the extent of knowledge and use of the NPI that exists in the community, and to identify whether barriers exist which indicate a need to restructure aspects of the program to overcome these barriers. Surveys were conducted of the general population in Queensland, using a mail-out questionnaire with randomly selected participants, and pro-environment community groups in Australia, using a mail-out survey with purposeful selection of participants, to obtain information about the knowledge and use of the NPI and to identify barriers to that knowledge and use. Data was analysed from 609 completed general population surveys, 78 completed pro-environment community group surveys completed in 2007 and the results compared to 47 pro-environment community group surveys from a survey that had previously been conducted in 2001. It was determined that almost 23% of the general population have sufficient awareness to be able to obtain information from the NPI website should they wish to do so. Lower levels of specific knowledge were found, which was comparable to previous studies. These results were also similar to studies of community knowledge of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) in the United States. The level of awareness of the NPI among green groups (that is, nature conservation focussed environment groups) was determined to be just over 51% and the awareness among brown groups (that is, industrial or pollution focussed environment groups) was determined to be almost 76%. The general population carried out limited searches of the website and made limited use of the available information. Members of brown groups were most active in accessing the information and then making use of it, although even among this group use of the information was limited. The main barrier to knowledge and use of the NPI was lack of promotion and awareness raising activities. This has significant implications for the program, identifying a need to establish an effective communication strategy that promotes the NPI website and encourages active participation.
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Thesis (Masters)
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Master of Science (MSc)
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School of Environment and Sc
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The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
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Subject
Pollutant release
Transfer registers
National Pollutant Inventory (NPI)
Emissions
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)