The focus of the ‘Constrained
Greens’ tends to be in the present, but given their
concerns about the environment they have potential to become more future
orientated. Their view was reasonably global and, again, showed potential for
expansion, but they also readily connected to local issues. Given their current life
circumstances of lower or no income, and sometimes more temporary
accommodation, they had a reduced sense of personal responsibility for the
environment. However, there was evidence that some felt defensive about this and were
struggling a little with residual guilt.
Their life constantly
required the strict balancing of a budget and left little room for
error, hence financial costs and benefit were usually top of mind.
There was some expectation
that they will be more proactive in the future, but for now
they have had to be realistic and pragmatic about what they can achieve given budget
balancing is critical. Indeed financial costs and benefit were usually top of mind.
“To be honest with you, I chose the energy efficient ones because they
are cheaper”
[Female, C1, 35-45, Married with kids, Valleys, South Wales - CG]
“If you’ve got a young family to support and you’re struggling
for money, environment and green issues aren’t
going to mean that much”
[Male, D, 36-45, Single Dad, Estate/Valleys, Blaenau Gwent - CG]
“Say a new plasma TV came out now and I wouldn’t go and buy it for
here until my other TV was
seventeen years old…”
[Female, C1, 45-54, Married with Kids, Own Home, Valleys, South Wales - CG]
“They are here and now [pollution and climate change] and we’ve
got to deal with them now because we
haven’t got time”
[Female, D, 36-45, Older Family, Estate/Valleys, Blenau Gwent - CG]
