THE LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AS A DETERMINANT OF ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS DEVELOPED BY INHABITANTS OF TOWNS AND VILLAGES – A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY

Today, the more and more intensive use of natural resources and consequent environmental degradation have made the issue of sustainable development a central place in many discussions going on in scientific circles. In this light, ecological awareness, as well as pro-ecological attitudes and behaviors of people seem to be only too significant. The aim of this article is to present the results of research conducted among the inhabitants of the Municipality of Zawadzkie, Opole Voivodeship. The study examined the relation between the level of environmental awareness and manifestations of environmental attitudes and behaviors. The obtained results were also subjected to a comparative analysis of two groups of respondents: inhabitants of towns and villages. The study did not show any significant differences between residents of towns and villages in terms of their ecological awareness and environmental attitudes and behaviors. It can therefore be concluded that changes in the sphere of awareness and specific environmental actions that are being taken in the surveyed community are not related to the place of residence. Residents of towns and villages have a similar access to knowledge and cultural changes concern both groups. It is worth pointing out that awareness as such and knowledge of the ...