In search of the ecological citizen

In the last decade increasing numbers of green political theorists have discussed the challenges that environmental degradation presents to individual human beings and their lifestyles. Do ecological citizens already exist and, if so, who are they and what factors may explain their existence? From responses to a mail questionnaire sent in 2005 to a random sample of 3000 Swedes aged 15–85, a group of respondents is identified who profess willingness to act as ‘ecological citizens’ in ways consistent with the concept as operationalised here. Perceived degree of environmental threat, interest in the environment, ideology and age contribute to explain willingness so to act, while commonly suggested factors such as level of education have no significant effect.