The research considers theoretical principles of ecological behaviour of the population. The main factors influencing the ecological behavior of a person are described. In this topic, factors of environmental behavior were divided into groups: external (arising from environmental conditions) and internal (physical and mental characteristics of the person). External factors include social, cultural, economic, legal and other components. They influence other components (economic factors interact not only in their own circle, but also affect the social, cultural and environmental environment). Internal factors of environmental behaviour depend on the characteristics of human nature, motivational settings, values and mental properties of the individual in relation to the environment. Motivation is one of the reasons for behaviour or a strong internal stimulus. It has been established that certain factors have an impact on several social groups (ecological taxation, the actual installation of containers for the sorting of garbage), while others – only on individuals (description in the works of the literature of the nature of the native land). An analysis of the sociological survey among residents of Kyiv and Chernihiv regarding the ideas about sustainable development and the acuteness of environmental problems was conducted. An analysis of the environmental problems of the city of Chernihiv revealed that the organization of waste management and the necessity of building a waste recycling plant are the most acute problems of the city’s residents. Residents of the capital are more concerned about the quality of drinking water. Another major concern is the issue of waste management and management. The third position relates to air pollution. The study allowed for information on the public awareness of the main provisions of the Rio Conventions, the place of environmental values in the hierarchy of social values of citizens, the availability of knowledge about environmental problems, understanding of the state of the environment from sustainable development of society, the use of eco-friendly measures in everyday life. The degree of readiness and attraction of the population to the main types of ecological behaviour is analyzed. Correlation between the level of education and the measures that respondents are prepared to do and are already doing to improve the environmental situation of their city are observed. Mechanisms of stimulation of ecological behaviour of the population are considered. It is determined that the economic mechanism covers two groups of regulators of the environmental behavior of the population. The first of them makes it difficult to limit the ecological and destructive activity of pollutants in the environment. The second – encourages business entities to improve the state of the environment by activating the environmental activities of producers of goods and services. It has been established that the economic mechanism that exists in Ukraine is more oriented to regulating environmental behaviour that limits environmental degradation activities. This mechanism does not stimulate the spread of environmentally sound technologies, limits the introduction of environmentally-oriented innovations in production and does not encourage environmental activities. The importance of environmental education and ecological education as an important mechanism of ecological behaviour of the population is emphasized.
Losing Hope? The Environmental Crisis Today
