Abstract

Undoubtedly, pro-environmental attitude is an indispensable element of environmental sustainability and hence sustainable development. Therefore, counties should make sure that their society has positive sensitivity to environment. Otherwise, necessary measures should be taken accordingly. In this study, environmental attitude of Turkish Cypriots was researched. Research findings reveal that respondents have pro-environmental attitude although the level of environmental education and the participation in environmental groups and organizations are not sufficient. Futhermore, the results of factor analysis indicate that the most important pro-environmental elements in order of relative importance are protection of ecological balance; international fight against increasing population density; institutional restructuring against environmental problems; understanding of environmental problems and air pollution; the necessity of international organizations for fighting against environment problems; and the necessity of the civil initiative in environmental problems.

Key words: Northern Cyprus, environment, environmental attitudes, environmental attitudes scale.