Środowisko życia człowieka i jego rozwój w kontekście politycznym i ekologicznym

Broad access to all kinds of information along with globalization have given the highest status of importance to the issues related to the environment and its quality. While the crises arising in the past were of class or territorial character, currently they are very often connected with the access to high quality environmental supplies. This is a new kind of risk, and that is why it also requires new political response. The environmental aspects are in the field of interest of each government; they are also included in the programs of political parties, as well as they are the subject of treaties or other international documents. However the term “environment” has become of political importance recently. The environment – becoming the subject of international cooperation and considered as a locus politicus – has caused irreversible changes in the foreign policy. Growing power of public opinion and development of civil society are one of the most important factors stimulating the process of emancipation of the term “environment”. But the question arises, why they have played such an important role in the context of the environment? This article is just an attempt to analyze the relationship among the public opinion and civil society versus doctrines concerning the “environment” and ecological consciousness.