New study reveals Mayo attitudes to climate change
Storm Ashley makes landfall at Roonagh Pier in West Mayo earlier this month. Picture: Michael McLaughlin
Four-fifths of people in Mayo are worried about climate change, according to the Climate Opinion Maps published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the Climate Change in the Irish Mind study.
Overall, 80% of people surveyed in Mayo are worried about climate change, just below the national figure of 82%. Some 54% said climate change is personally important to them and 61% said climate change is going to harm them personally while 94% said climate change will harm future generations and 78% said it would harm people in Ireland. A total of 73% believe climate change is already harming people in Ireland and will do so in the next 10 years.
The majority believe climate change is affecting the weather and that flooding and severe storms will harm the local area. Some 54% said they are not worried about water shortages affecting their local area but 80% are worried water pollution will harm the local area. Only 31% are worried that wildfires will harm the local area.
With regards to policy support, the majority said climate action would improve the economy and provide new jobs and it will improve Ireland’s quality of life. Some 87% said Ireland has a responsibility to act on climate change and 79% said it should be a priority of the Government. The vast majority said both citizens and businesses should do more about climate change.
The majority support using fossil fuel taxes to assist fossil fuel workers, to develop clean energy sources and to improve transport infrastructure. There was majority support for banning peat coal and oil for home heating, for government grants to make electric vehicles more affordable and for increased investment in public transport. Some 51% support higher taxes on petrol/diesel cars.
Of those surveyed, 78% know a lot about climate change and 95% believe climate change is happening while 55% said climate change is mostly caused by human activity but only 31% are aware Ireland's agriculture sector is the largest pollution source.
