There is a lack of understanding of the causes of climate change in many parts of Ireland, according to the latest interactive maps of Ireland on public attitudes to a warming world although there is strong support across the country for action to address the crisis.
Based on data collected in 2023, less than half of the population in counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Monaghan and Laois understands climate change is caused by humans. It is caused by greenhouse gases, mainly arising from burning fossil fuels.
The maps released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicate 82 per cent of the Irish population are concerned about climate change, with 65 per cent saying it will harm them personally and 95 per cent saying it will harm future generations. They were undertaken with Yale University under the Climate Change in the Irish Mind study.
“These maps show nationwide acceptance of the scientific consensus on climate change, and strong support for most climate action policies, with minimal variation based on where people live, and that most climate attitudes were resilient in the face of cost-of-living increases,” said EPA office of evidence and assessment director Dr Eimear Cotter.
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“However, we also see public understanding of the causes of climate change is limited and varies between counties. In some counties, less than half of the population understands climate change is human-caused, compared to about six in 10 in other areas,” she added.
While the overall picture of support for climate action remains high and largely consistent across the country, there are slight regional variations in levels of support for some policies such as banning of peat, coal and oil for home heating. Support is highest in urban areas and weakest in the northwest and Border regions. A similar pattern is evident for policies to increase taxes on cars using petrol and diesel.
The maps suggest people are concerned about known region-specific climate risks. A higher percentage of people are worried about water shortages in Dublin and the mideast region than the rest of the country. However, water pollution remains a widespread worry for eight in 10 people across all counties.
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