AbstrActbased on a review of the main analytical approaches found in the literature, in this paper we establish a multidimensional and behaviour-oriented definition of environmental consciousness. We propose a method to operationalize this definition with the final aim of obtaining summary measures (or indexes) of this phenomenon which can be applied to different social contexts and time periods. the data obtained from a survey on environmental attitudes and behaviour conducted in 2004 among andalusians (ecobarómetro de andalucía 2004) is used as an empirical basis for the proposed operationalization. the resulting measures are then employed to identify social groups according to the diverse forms of their environmental consciousness and to explore their basic socio-demographic profiles. Keywordsenvironmental concern, environmental attitudes, Pro-environmental behavior. resumen a partir de las principales aproximaciones analíticas presentes en la literatura, en este trabajo establecemos una definición de conciencia ambiental multidimensional y orientada a la conducta; proponemos un método para su operacionalización con el objetivo de elaborar medidas sintéticas de este fenómeno en distintos contextos sociales. la operacionalización propuesta utiliza como base empírica los resultados del ecobarómetro de andalucía (eba 2004). los indicadores resultantes son utilizados seguidamente para identificar distintos grupos sociales según la naturaleza de su conciencia ambiental. PAlAbrAs clAveactitudes ambientales, comportamiento proambiental, Preocupación ambiental.revistA internAcionAl de sociologíA (ris)

Abstract:In a context of climate change and more severe and frequent droughts, in order to achieve efficient and sustainable results, water-governance models must take into consideration different alternative management measures and the degree of social approval of each alternative. In this context, the present work analyzes public perceptions concerning water management-and climate change-related issues, especially in relation to the degree of social approval attained by six water management measures in Andalusia (southern Spain). These issues were included in the Ecobarómetro between 2004 and 2013, a period which was marked by the 2005-2008 drought. This analysis aims to increase our understanding of the state of public opinion in Andalusia on the basis that such knowledge is a necessary tool for political decision-making processes. The results and the conclusions have significant implications for water policy makers.

Efforts to improve the efficiency of irrigation systems in areas which suffer from water scarcity have often failed to reduce water demand owing to the constant expansion of irrigation. Andalusia, in southern Spain, is a clear case in point, as the publicly funded programs aimed at improving irrigation put forward since the 1990s after recurrent episodes of drought have not been able to meet agrarian demand. This situation has generated an active debate among stakeholders and public managers. This study aims to investigate the role of public opinion in this debate, as demanded by new water governance models, embodied in the Water Framework Directive. We use the results of a representative annual survey in Andalusia between 2004 and 2013. First, we analyze the evolution of public support for the two most costly public measures: constructing reservoirs and improving irrigation. Second, we analyze some attitudes that may have affected a change in public opinion, including institutional trust and environmental concern. The results suggest that the public legitimizes the administration's bid for more efficient irrigation systems, essentially for environmental reasons. However, should attempts to control water demand continue to fail, support for this measure may be withdrawn.

ResumenEste artículo es una contribución, desde la sociología ambiental, al estudio de las relaciones entre opinión pública y políticas ambientales. El tema que abordan los autores es la variabilidad existente en el modo en que la población percibe los problemas relacionados con el medio ambiente dependiendo del ámbito geográfico que se tome como referencia (local, regional, nacional, global), tema éste que tiene importancia para la formulación de las políticas públicas (concretamente, para la aplicación de los principios de mitigación y adaptación en la lucha contra el cambio climático). sus autores toman la comunidad autónoma andaluza como caso de estudio, a partir de la información proporcionada por el Ecobarómetro de Andalucía elaborado, desde 2001, por el iEsa-csic. la principal aportación de este artículo consiste en señalar cómo, ante el cambio climático, la población percibe que la política dirigida a mitigar los efectos de este problema de escala global es una especie de "suprapolítica" disociada de las acciones regionales/locales. PalabRas Claves adiCionalescambio climático, conciencia ambiental, España, opinión pública. abstRaCt the objective of this article is to contribute, from the environmental sociology, to the debate on the relationship between public opinion and environmental policies. We show the diversity existing at social perceptions on environmental issues in accordance to the geographical level we take as reference (local, regional, national and global). this topic is very important both to define and implement policies aimed to mitigate the effects of climate change. the empirical analysis has carried out of the information offered by the Ecobarómetro of Revista inteRnacional de sociología (Ris) Vol.67, nº 3, SEPtiEMbrE-diciEMbrE, 681-699, 2009 issn: 0034-9712 eissn: 1988