Environmental Concern Scale

The Environmental Concern Scale (ECS) measures the degree to which individuals worry about and feel affected by environmental problems, pollution, and ecological degradation. Originally developed by Weigel and Weigel (1978), the ECS focuses on emotional and affective responses to environmental issues—anxiety, worry, and perceived personal threat from pollution—rather than abstract values or beliefs. The scale is widely used in public opinion research, conservation communication effectiveness studies, and assessing emotional responses to environmental threats like climate change and air pollution.