Georgia’s Coast: Interest, Knowledge & Attitudes
Environmental literacy is defined by an individual who possesses knowledge about the environment and issues related to it, and who is capable of and inclined towards responsible environmental behavior. Environmental literacy encompasses all five objectives of environmental education—helping learners to gain awareness, knowledge, appropriate attitudes, citizen action skills, and, finally, the motivation to become active, engaged citizens within their community. At a time when Georgians are being asked to make critical decisions for our land, wildlife, and the health of our families, they need the knowledge and tools to make responsible choices.
While there are no national measures of adult environmental literacy in the United States, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) recently conducted a comprehensive survey that provides benchmark data on environmental attitudes, knowledge, and environmentally-friendly behaviors. The NEEF Benchmark Survey found that an estimated 65 million people—nearly one-third of the adult population in the U.S.—are actively engaged in environmental issues, six in ten adults take some sort of action when learning about the environmental issues facing the world today, and all adults practice at least some environmentally-friendly behaviors.
In order to understand how Georgians understand and act upon the coastal issues presented in this dashboard, the GCC team conducted extensive surveys throughout 2019. These surveys attempted to better understand how respondents interact with our coast, the value they place on our coastal resources, and their support for related conservation measures. Surveys will be replicated annually in order to capture increases or decreases in attitudes and values over time. We have also created an interactive quiz (see below) to measure in real time our citizens’ understanding of the critical issues facing our coast.
What We Learned
Value for our Coast: Georgians overwhelmingly value our coast, its intrinsic beauty, and its contributions to science, education, and the health of our planet. Large majorities of visitors pointed to coastal Georgia’s natural resources and related recreational activities such as hiking, beachcombing, and wildlife viewing, as primary reasons for their trip.
Coastal Knowledge: In self-assessments, respondents rated themselves most knowledgeable about issues frequently discussed in the media, such as wildlife conservation, climate change, and trash and litter pollution. Our coastal literacy quiz will provide further insight into Georgians’ knowledge about key coastal issues, such as coal ash pollution and sea level rise.
Taking Action for our Coast: While respondents felt that responsibility for solving coastal Georgia’s environmental problems fell to a variety of groups, the majority agreed that individual citizens and local governments should play an important role. The majority prioritized the environment when making decisions about who to vote for in elected office.
Interesting Questions and Results From the First Survey
How important is Georgia’s coast to you (beaches, waterways, rivers, etc.)?
| Not at all important | 0.00% | 0 |
| Not very important | 0.00% | 0 |
| I don’t know | 0.23% | 1 |
| Somewhat important | 2.03% | 9 |
| Very important | 97.74% | 433 |
What made you decide to visit/spend time on Georgia’s coast? (check all that apply)
| I have not visited Georgia’s Coast | 0.67% | 3 |
| Sightseeing | 69.96% | 312 |
| Being outdoors | 87.00% | 388 |
| Swimming/Wading | 55.83% | 249 |
| Diving | 4.48% | 20 |
| Cycling | 33.86% | 151 |
| Hunting/Fishing | 26.01% | 116 |
| Hiking/Walking/Jogging | 62.78% | 280 |
| Birdwatching/Wildlife viewing | 62.11% | 277 |
| ATV riding | 1.35% | 6 |
| Playing with /walking my dog(s) | 26.23% | 117 |
| Boating (including personal watercrafts, sail boating and motorboats) | 41.93% | 187 |
| Paddling (including paddle boards, kayaking, canoeing) | 47.76% | 213 |
| Waterskiing/Wakeboarding/Tubing | 5.16% | 23 |
| Historical or cultural tours | 68.16% | 304 |
| Beachcombing/Relaxing on the beach | 82.06% | 366 |
| Other (please specify) | 15.70% | 70 |
Additional Findings:
Younger respondents were significantly more likely to report swimming/wading than older respondents. They were also more likely to report playing with/walking my dog(s) than middle age or older respondents. Middle aged respondents were significantly more likely to report hiking/walking/ jogging, and birdwatching/wildlife viewing than younger respondents.
Coastal residents were significantly more likely to report hiking/walking/jogging and playing with/walking my dog (s) than Georgia mainland residents. Georgia mainland residents were significantly more likely to report hunting/fishing than coastal residents.
Households with children were significantly more likely to report swimming/wading and beachcombing/relaxing on the beach than households without children.
The top five activities identified by non-Georgia residents are as follows:
| Being outdoors | 79.63% | 43 |
| Beachcombing/Relaxing on the beach | 79.63% | 43 |
| Sightseeing | 59.26% | 32 |
| Historical or cultural tours | 59.26% | 32 |
| Birdwatching/Wildlife viewing | 42.59% | 23 |
Respondents reporting lower- and middle-income annual household income reported significantly less interest in hunting/fishing activities. Those reporting a higher-annual household income were significantly more likely to report interest in paddling activities compared to middle- income responders.
Based on the last time you engaged in recreational activities on Georgia’s coast, which of the following would be true? (check all that apply)
| I haven’t been to Georgia coast. | 0.70% | 3 |
| There was enough accessible parking. | 49.53% | 213 |
| It was not overcrowded with visitors. | 64.19% | 276 |
| I was comfortable with the behavior of other visitors (e.g. no criminal, offensive or inappropriate behavior). | 76.74% | 330 |
| I felt safe. | 87.44% | 376 |
| There was enough lighting. | 51.40% | 221 |
| I was comfortable swimming in the water (or letting others). | 48.14% | 207 |
| It was free from litter. | 38.14% | 164 |
| There were enough trash receptacles. | 38.84% | 167 |
| I observed other people enjoying the beach or oceanfront. | 79.77% | 343 |
| I felt that the community was invested in the coastal environment and natural habitats | 57.44% | 247 |
| I don’t remember. | 0.93% | 4 |
When you last visited/spent time on Georgia’s coast for recreation purposes, which of the following statements would you say would be true? (check all that apply)
| I purchased supplies at a local store. | 68.77% | 273 |
| I stayed at a local hotel, motel or campground. | 29.47% | 117 |
| I purchased gas at a local station. | 72.80% | 289 |
| I ate at a local restaurant. | 90.18% | 358 |
| I visited another local attraction which charged an admission fee. | 41.06% | 163 |
| I visited another local attraction which had free admission. | 49.62% | 197 |
Additional Findings:
Respondents from Georgia’s mainland were significantly more likely to report purchasing supplies at a local store, staying at a local hotel, motel or campground and purchasing gas at a local station as compared to coastal residents.
Respondents reporting that they were from middle- and upper-income households were significantly more likely to report purchasing supplies at a local store as compared to those from lower-income households.
The following is a list of coastal ocean and beach challenges that Georgians are concerned about. To what degree are you CONCERNED about these issues for Georgia’s coast?
| Not at all concerned | Not very concerned | Neutral/No opinion | Somewhat concerned | Very concerned | Total | ||||||
| Climate change/sea level rise | 4.17% | 17 | 3.43% | 14 | 5.64% | 23 | 15.20% | 62 | 71.57% | 292 | 408 |
| Wildlife conservation (e.g. sea turtles, shorebirds, marine mammals) | 0.00% | 0 | 0.49% | 2 | 0.49% | 2 | 13.79% | 56 | 85.22% | 346 | 406 |
| Dredging/Offshore dredge disposal | 1.47% | 6 | 1.72% | 7 | 7.84% | 32 | 26.23% | 107 | 62.75% | 256 | 408 |
| Beach erosion | 1.24% | 5 | 5.96% | 24 | 10.17% | 41 | 30.77% | 124 | 51.86% | 209 | 403 |
| Offshore drilling/seismic testing | 0.98% | 4 | 1.97% | 8 | 6.39% | 26 | 12.78% | 52 | 77.89% | 317 | 407 |
| Mining of minerals (including sand) | 1.72% | 7 | 1.97% | 8 | 11.06% | 45 | 24.82% | 101 | 60.44% | 246 | 407 |
| Habitat loss from coastal development | 0.00% | 0 | 0.98% | 4 | 0.74% | 3 | 12.53% | 51 | 85.75% | 349 | 407 |
| Air and water pollution (such as mercury, PCBs, sewage, pesticides, industrial contamination) | 0.00% | 0 | 0.74% | 3 | 1.72% | 7 | 14.99% | 61 | 82.56% | 336 | 407 |
| Coal ash (removal, disposal and storage) | 0.75% | 3 | 2.00% | 8 | 10.22% | 41 | 20.45% | 82 | 66.58% | 267 | 401 |
| Trash and litter (e.g. plastics) | 0.00% | 0 | 0.49% | 2 | 2.72% | 11 | 18.27% | 74 | 78.52% | 318 | 405 |
| Microplastics pollution | 0.25% | 1 | 0.50% | 2 | 4.95% | 20 | 20.05% | 81 | 74.26% | 300 | 404 |
Additional Findings:
Younger and older respondents were significantly more likely to select “very concerned” about climate change as compared to middle aged respondents. However, younger respondents were significantly less likely to select “very concerned“ regarding all other issues as compared to middle aged and older respondents except for air/water pollution and trash/litter.
Those with less education were significantly more likely to select “very concerned” regarding litter/trash as compared to those with a higher level of education. However, those with less education were significantly less likely to select “very concerned” regarding climate change.
Females were significantly more likely to select “very concerned” about all issues as compared to males except for the issues of climate change, mining materials and coal ash.
Coastal resident respondents were significantly more likely to select “very concerned” for climate change/sea level rise as compared to Georgia mainland respondents. However, Georgia mainland respondents were significantly more likely to select “very concerned” regarding coal ash.
Respondents from household without children were significantly more likely to select “very concerned” regarding beach erosion, mining of materials, air/water pollution and microplastic pollution as compared to those from households with children.
Conservatively leaning respondents selected “very concerned” significantly fewer times on all issues as compared to moderate and progressive/liberal leaning respondents except for the issues of air/water pollution and trash/litter.
Respondents from lower income households selected “very concerned” significantly less often regarding offshore drilling/seismic testing than those from middle and upper incomes. They also selected “very concerned” significantly less often regarding dredging/offshore dredge disposal than those from middle income households.
To what degree are you KNOWLEDGEABLE about these issues for Georgia’s coast?
| Not at all knowledgeable | Not very knowledgeable | Somewhat knowledgeable | Very knowledgeable | Total | |||||
| Climate change/sea level rise | 0.25% | 1 | 8.37% | 34 | 59.36% | 241 | 32.02% | 130 | 406 |
| Wildlife conservation (e.g. sea turtles, shorebirds, marine mammals) | 0.25% | 1 | 5.90% | 24 | 56.76% | 231 | 37.10% | 151 | 407 |
| Dredging/Offshore dredge disposal | 4.19% | 17 | 34.24% | 139 | 50.49% | 205 | 11.08% | 45 | 406 |
| Beach erosion | 0.74% | 3 | 21.78% | 88 | 58.91% | 238 | 18.56% | 75 | 404 |
| Off-shore drilling/seismic testing | 5.43% | 22 | 27.65% | 112 | 51.36% | 208 | 15.56% | 63 | 405 |
| Mining of minerals (including sand) | 11.33% | 46 | 42.12% | 171 | 37.93% | 154 | 8.62% | 35 | 406 |
| Habitat loss from coastal development | 1.23% | 5 | 8.35% | 34 | 55.28% | 225 | 35.14% | 143 | 407 |
| Air and water pollution (such as mercury, PCBs, sewage, pesticides, industrial contamination) | 2.46% | 10 | 22.91% | 93 | 56.16% | 228 | 18.47% | 75 | 406 |
| Coal ash (removal, disposal and storage) | 10.34% | 42 | 35.47% | 144 | 43.35% | 176 | 10.84% | 44 | 406 |
| Trash and litter (e.g. plastics) | 0.50% | 2 | 6.68% | 27 | 48.02% | 194 | 44.80% | 181 | 404 |
| Microplastics pollution | 4.19% | 17 | 15.27% | 62 | 51.72% | 210 | 28.82% | 117 | 406 |
Additional Findings:
Younger respondents were significantly more likely to report that they were very knowledgeable about wildlife conservation as compared to middle and older aged respondents. They were significantly more likely to report that they were less knowledgeable about the issues of dredging, offshore drilling, mining and coal ash removal than middle and older aged respondents.
Higher educated respondents were significantly more likely to rate themselves as “very knowledgeable” on climate change as compared to those with lesser education.
Males were significantly more likely to rate themselves as “very knowledgeable” as compared to females on all issues.
Georgia mainland respondents were significantly more likely to rate themselves as knowledgeable about coal ash issues as compared to respondents from Georgia’s coast.
Respondents reporting a lower household income were significantly more likely to rate themselves as “very knowledgeable” about trash/litter issues as compared to respondents reporting middle or upper household incomes.
Our Goals
Protect, connect, and enhance environments for coastal plants and animals to adapt to changes in sea level and benefit the community.
Maintain thriving, working landscapes and waterfronts that support the sustainable production of food and fiber for our communities.
Cultivate opportunities to enjoy and recreate in the special places and historic communities along Georgia’s coast.
Promote economic development that respects natural environments and preserves the character of our coastal communities.