"In the U.S. the public mainly relies on pressure groups as a counterweight to polluters, and arbitrators are sought in case of disputes," says Dr. Daigee Shaw, who is convener of the committee on environment in the R.O.C. Consumer Foundation, pointing out that private interest groups have never been encouraged in Taiwan and so are unable to assist the government now.
台灣大學社會系教授蕭新煌在「中國人對環境的關切」文中指出，現代中國人對環境的觀念可以說有相當「功利」色彩，民眾對環境問題的認知與關切，多少是出於本人的主觀認知或受害感，往往把「環境」概念拉進到與個人、家庭居住狀況的範疇之內。