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Hungarians identify sustainability as a key issue

More than 70,000 Hungarians took part in an online consultation on environmental protection launched by the government last year.

A survey has found that 97 percent of Hungarians identify sustainability as a key issue and most support Hungary's climate goals.

More than 70,000 Hungarians took part in an online consultation on environmental protection launched by the government last year. Attila Steiner, the state secretary for climate, energy policy and the development of the circular economy, said 97 percent of respondents identified sustainability as a key issue. The survey found that most Hungarians supported Hungary’s climate goals, with 81 percent backing them on the condition that they did not endanger the country’s energy security. More than 85 percent of respondents agreed that the world’s top polluters should bear the costs of transitioning to a sustainable future, he said. Altogether 67 percent expressed support for raising fines for illegal waste dumping, while 22.6 percent favored even tougher penalties, the state secretary said. Nearly to 99 percent said they would welcome a new deposit return scheme for single-use plastic bottles. Meanwhile, the installation of solar panels was backed by more than 95 percent, tree planting schemes by 98 percent and the reduction of single-use plastics by 90 percent of respondents.

Photo credit: MTI