PUBLICOPINION Solid and Professional 5-6/2021

POLISH

ISSN 2083-1714 CONTENTS Vaccinations against Covid -19 Declarations show that slightly more than half of adult Poles have already been Vaccinations against vaccinated with at least one dose (52%), almost one-fifth would like to be Covid -19 vaccinated (18%), and one-fourth have no intention to do so (26%). Very few people have no clear attitude Would you like to be vaccinated against t o w a r d s v a c c i n a t i o n ( 4 % ) . COVID-19? Democracy in Poland C o m p a r e d t o t h e M a y % XI 2020 16 20 20 27 17 measurement, the percentage of 1 I 2021 33 23 14 16 13 Energy transformation: people vaccinated with at least one dose has increased significantly, II 2021 3 34 21 15 18 9 expectations and the percentage of those III 2021 7 35 20 14 18 6 and demands declaring their intention to IV 2021 21 27 17 13 17 5 vaccinate has decreased. On the V 2021 36 19 14 11 14 6 Attitude to nuclear other hand, the proportion of people who are reluctant to VI 2021 52 9 9 10 16 4 energy I have already Deﬁnitely Rather Rather Deﬁnitely Don't vaccinate has remained practically been vaccinated would would not not know unchanged. Almost half of respondents declaring their willingness to vaccinate have not yet IN ADDITION signed up for a specific date (49%). The reasons most often mentioned in

TO THE REPORTS REFERRED TO ABOVE, spontaneous statements were lack of time, forgetfulness, "laziness" (21%). A THE FOLLOWING HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED RECENTLY (IN POLISH): history of coronavirus infection was mentioned less often in this context: some argued that they still had to wait after being ill and recover, while others said that · Opinions about TV and Radio Stations they were still immune and could wait with vaccination (18% in total). Some in April respondents (17%) intend to wait until autumn to see how the epidemiological · Influence on Public Affairs situation develops. A similar group of respondents (16%) have not signed up for · Political Party Preferences in May vaccination so far, despite the declared willingness to use this form of · Opinions about Parliament and President immunization, due to fear of potential complications and adverse post- · Fear of Coronavirus and Evaluation vaccination reactions (16%). One-tenth of people willing to vaccinate who have of Government Actions in May not yet signed up for a specific date justify their decision with poor health or · Attitude to COVID-19 Vaccinations in May diseases that preclude vaccination. The same proportion (10%) have not yet · Moods on the Job Market in May signed up for a specific date due to various problems related to the procedure: · Trust in Politicians in May some spoke in this context about difficulties in using a computer (they "cannot · Attitude to Government in May do it"), others lost the appointment due to their inability to come to vaccination on time. A few people have not yet registered for vaccination due to pregnancy, · Social Moods in May breastfeeding (4%) or inability to be vaccinated near their place of residence · Subjective Safety (3%). · Socio-Professional Situation of People Aged 18-24 in the Last 30 Years More information about this topic can be found in CBOS report in Polish: "Poles on COVID-19 · Political Party Preferences in June Vaccinations", June 2021. Fieldwork for national sample: June 2021, N=1218. The random sample is representative for adult population of Poland. · Football and UEFA Euro 2020 · Opinions about Parliament and President Democracy in Poland · Poles on the Announced Changes in Taxes In all subsequent CBOS studies, starting from the first half of the 1990s, Poles · Social Moods in June have invariably declared their approval of democracy, expressing their · Trust in Politicians in June conviction that the democratic system is superior to other forms of government. In April 2021, more than two-thirds of respondents (68%) agreed with the statement that democracy is superior to other systems of condition of Polish democracy has deteriorated exercising power. The percentage of supporters of significantly. People dissatisfied with the way democracy democracy is now slightly lower than it was in 2018-2020, works in our country are in majority (52% dissatisfied, 38% when support for democracy regularly exceeded 70%, satisfied). reaching a record 76% in May 2018. Evaluation of functioning of democracy in Poland Do you agree that democracy is superior to all other forms 80% 70% of government? Dissatisﬁed 60% 80% Agree 50% 70% 40% 60% Satisﬁed 30% 50% 20% 40% Don't know 10% 30% Don’t know 0% 20% '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 '20 '21 10% Disagree Over the last four years, there have been changes in the 0% '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 '20 '21 assessment of the implementation of certain democratic Since 2016, the level of identification with the democratic principles in our country. This applies primarily to the system has been higher than in previous years (starting principles of liberalism: there is a deterioration in the from 1992): the percentage of people who are not perception of the freedom of expression and association indifferent to whether the government is democratic or in Poland, of the personal freedom of citizens, of the level not systematically exceeds 60%. In April this year, 62% of protection of the rights of minorities, and of citizens' said it mattered to them whether government is opportunity to be active in the public sphere. At the same democratic or not. time, there is an increase in the percentage of people Do you agree that, for people like you, it does not really declaring that in Poland the rights of an individual are matter whether the government is democratic limited in order to achieve collective goals. Other or undemocratic? standards of the democratic state have also deteriorated. 70% Fewer people believe that our country is governed by the

60% Disagree rule of law, that the Sejm represents the will of voters, and 50% that important state decisions are consulted with society. 40% Agree Moreover, there is an increase in the number of citizens 30% questioning freedom and fairness of elections. On the 20% Don't know other hand, there is a noticeable improvement in the 10% components of democracy related to social policy, which 0% '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 '20 '21 we observed already four years ago: ensuring equal Social consent to undemocratic forms of exercising power opportunities to obtain education, regardless of material is currently the lowest in the history of CBOS research. status, and decent living conditions for the most Only slightly more than one-fourth (26%) agree with the disadvantaged. statement that sometimes undemocratic rule may be Are the following rules observed in Poland? more desirable than democracy. More than half (54%) are % 2017 92 4 4 There is universal suﬀrage of the opposite opinion. 2021 89 6 6

Do you agree that undemocratic government can There is a choice between 2017 74 15 11 sometimes be better than democratic? political party programs 2021 74 16 11 60% The state ﬁnances health, 2017 70 24 6 science and culture 2021 73 21 6 50% Agree Disagree The state is responsible 2017 71 20 9 40% for economic life 2021 69 22 9 30% Don't know 2017 75 14 11 Elections are free and fair 20% 2021 68 21 11

The minority must submit 2017 71 19 10 10% to the will of the majority 2021 68 20 13 0% '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 '20 '21 Citizens have the opportunity 2017 71 23 6 to be active in public life 2021 62 30 8 In recent years, i.e. from 2018 to July 2020, not only have Personal freedom of citizens 2017 65 25 10 we recorded record-breaking rates of approval for the is protected 2021 57 34 10 democratic order, but also positive assessments of the In order to achieve collective 2017 50 23 27 goals, individual rights functioning of democracy in Poland prevailed at that time. are restricted 2021 55 21 24 In the last few months, however, the assessment of the Yes No Don't know 2 Are the following rules observed in Poland? greatest threats to modern civilization. Only a few % There is freedom of expression 2017 68 26 6 question the threat of climate change (3%) or even deny it and association 2021 54 39 8 (1%). CBOS research from 2009-2018 showed a growing

The government cares 2017 48 41 11 awareness of the dangers of climate change. At present, about the welfare of citizens 2021 48 44 7 the perceived importance of this problem has slightly The state ensures decent living 2017 43 47 10 decreased. Perhaps it was due to the ongoing pandemic, conditions for the poorest 2021 48 41 11 which changed the hierarchy of perceived threats to Children from all families have 2017 43 52 5 civilization, bringing to the fore the problems related to it. equal educational opportunities 2021 48 46 6

2017 53 31 16 What is your personal opinion on climate change? Which Minority rights are protected 2021 46 40 15 of the following statements best reflects your view

The state limits the inequalities 2017 43 36 21 on this issue? of living conditions 2021 44 36 20 15% 18% Climate change is one 2017 48 40 12 22% 26% of the greatest threats to modern The Sejm represents the will 29% civilization today of the voters 2021 42 46 12

2017 47 46 7 Climate change is a threat, but it is There is the rule of law one of many dangerous phenomena 2021 40 51 9 56% 57% 53% Climate change is not a particularly The government actions are 2017 40 42 18 51% signiﬁcant threat controlled by independent courts, 54% incl. Constitutional Court 2021 40 45 16 Climate change is not a dangerous phenomenon at all 2017 39 55 6 All are equal before the law 2021 38 57 5 16% 12% 11% 12% There is no such thing as climate 3% 8% change The state transfers the broadest 4% 5% 3% 3% 2017 44 30 26 1% 2% 2% possible powers to self-governments 8% 6% 9% 1% 7% 1% and social organizations 2021 38 41 21 5% Don't know XII 2009 XI 2014 II 2016 XI 2018 V 2021 The state tries to interfere 2017 37 46 17 in the lives of citizens as little as possible 2021 35 51 15 Poles' opinions on the pace of our country's route to

The best people are selected 2017 33 55 12 climate neutrality are divided. Almost half of respondents to run the country 2021 33 58 9 (48% in total) believe that Poland should achieve climate Important state decisions 2017 29 61 10 neutrality by 2050, including 27% who think that it should are consulted with society 2021 26 64 10 be done it as soon as possible, i.e. even before that date. A Yes No Don't know slightly smaller percentage (43%) believe, however, that More information about this topic can be found in CBOS report in Poland should strive towards climate neutrality at its own Polish: "Attitude to Democracy and Opinions about Its Functioning", pace, even if it means that we will achieve this goal later. May 2021 and “The Principles of Democracy”, June 2021. Fieldwork for By 2050, European Union countries are to achieve climate national sample: April 2021, N=1131. The random sample is representative for adult population of Poland. neutrality: reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming, including carbon dioxide. Energy transformation: Should Poland try to achieve this goal: Poland should achieve climate neutrality at its own pace, even if it expectations and demands 43% means that we will achieve it after 2050 by 2050 21% One of the greatest challenges facing the modern world in the decades to come is preventing climate change. The 9% as soon as possible, 27% Don't know Paris Agreement, adopted in December 2015, provides for i.e. before 2050 "limiting the increase in global average temperature to In general, Poles understand and accept the need for levels well below 2° C above pre-industrial levels and energy transformation, understood as abandoning coal in making efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5° C favour of more ecological methods of energy production. above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this will The gradual withdrawal from coal-based energy is significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate supported by nearly three-quarters of respondents (74%). change”. The implementation of this goal requires the Almost one-fifth (19%) believe that energy generation reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon should be based mainly on domestic hard coal resources. dioxide, e.g. by reducing the combustion of fossil fuels. The European Green Deal states that the EU economy is to Currently, the basic energy resource in Poland is hard coal. In the next 10–20 years, energy generation in Poland… achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050. should be based primarily on domestic Don't The vast majority of Poles (77%) perceive climate change hard coal resources know as a threat, and more than half (51%) believe that it is only 19% 7% 74% one of many dangerous phenomena. Slightly more than we should gradually abandon coal-based energy one-fourth (26%) believe that climate change is one of the and develop other methods of energy production 3 Although its share in the energy mix in Poland is decreasing, coal is still the main source of energy. In 2020, Attitude to nuclear energy a total of 70% of electricity came from coal, 18% from renewable sources, and 10% from natural gas. The Polish There are plans to build at least two nuclear power plants model of energy transformation assumes a further in Poland. It is assumed that their share in electricity departure from coal in favour of renewable energy sources production in Poland will amount to approximately 20% and the development of nuclear energy. The intermediate –25% in the first half of the 2040s. The first reactor is to be fuel is to be gas, which produces less carbon dioxide ready in 2033. emissions than coal. The catastrophe in Fukushima in 2011 intensified Poles' Declarations regarding respondents' preferred directions sceptical attitude towards nuclear energy, which since of change in the energy sector show that Poles expect a then has outweighed support. Currently, however, this significant decrease in the production of energy from coal rejection is smaller than a few years ago. Two fifths of within the next several years and the development of respondents (39%) are in favour of building nuclear power renewable energy sources. According to expectations, in plants in Poland, and 45% are against it. 2050 renewable sources should be the main source of Construction of nuclear power plants has its supporters electricity, supplying nearly half of its production. At the and opponents. Are you for or against building nuclear same time, in public opinion, a part of the electricity power plants in Poland? generated in 2050 should still come from coal. Responses 70% Oppose 58 show a certain scepticism in the approach to the 60% 53 52 48 50 50 50 development of nuclear energy in Poland. It seems that 50% 46 45 46 45 39 40 Poles are a bit more afraid of the energy obtained from the 40% 38 34 42 35 34 31 40 39 39 atom than from coal, which, despite the awareness of the 38 Support 30% 25 need for decarbonisation, is a familiar source of energy. In 30 20% 17 17 15 16 16 the public consciousness, gas has a permanent place in 20 13 11 10% 7 the energy generation system. According to averaged 10 10 Don't know 0% data, it should be the source of about one-fifth of the 1 I 2016 electricity produced in the future. XI 1987 XI 1989 VI 2006 VII 2008II 2009IX 2009IX 2010IV 201 III 2013 III 2018 V 2021 What percentage of electricity in 2035 should be produced The support for the development of nuclear energy is from: lower if the power plant were to be located close to Means 32,7% 33,8% respondents' place of residence. One quarter (24%) would 21,4% support the construction of such a facility in their 8,0% 4,1% neighbourhood, while two thirds would oppose (64%).

N=828 coal natural renewable energy nuclear other sources If a nuclear power plant were to be built near your place gas sources of residence, would you be for or against it? What percentage of electricity in 2050 should be produced % 72 70 from: 63 67 64 47,1% 56 57

36 20,6% 32 Means 25 28 25 15,4% 12,4% 24 4,5% 17 11 12 8 11 12 5 5 N=821 coal natural renewable energy nuclear other sources gas sources VI 2006 VII 2008 IX 2009 IX 2010 IV 2011 III 2013 V 2021

Respondents unable to answer this question were omitted. I would be in favour I would oppose Don't know They constituted 29% of the total. of construction construction

More information about this topic can be found in CBOS report in More information about this topic can be found in CBOS report in Polish: "Energy Transition – Expectations and Demands", June 2021. Polish: "Attitude to Nuclear Energy", June 2021. Fieldwork for national Fieldwork for national sample: May 2021, N=1163. The random sample sample: May 2021, N=1163. The random sample is representative for is representative for adult population of Poland. adult population of Poland.

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